Former England Grand Slam winning captain Will Carling says that Nick Mallett should replace Martin Johnson if his contract is not renewed.

Johnson’s contract expires in December and as yet he has not revealed whether he wants to continue or whether the RFU want him to continue.

A number of names have been linked to the England head coaching job both domestic and international but momentum appears to be gathering behind Nick Mallett.

Herfordshire born Mallet has been coaching Italy since the last Rugby World Cup and enjoyed success in Europe with Stade Francais.

Mallett was replaced as Italy coach after the Rugby World Cup and is currently without a permanent coaching job.

The former Springbok coach led South Africa to a record equalling 17 straight victories in one of the high points in his career but was also the man that played flanker Mauro Bergamasco at scrum-half against England at Twickenham with disastrous concequences.

However Carling who still holds the record for winning the most caps as England captain believes Mallett should replace Johnson if he does not stay on.

“Mallett is my top choice and I think he would be extremely good,” Carling told Sportsbeat

“Henry is very good, a very likeable guy, but he has just done it with his own country and I’m not sure he has the edge to do it.

“We need someone who needs to do it for the first time.

“Martin Johnson is an unbelievable player, an unbelievable captain and he was all about winning.

“He is stubborn which is one of his strengths as well and if he is going to be told who is going to be on his coaching team he may well say ‘I’m not interested’.”

10 Responses to Carling backs Mallett for England coach

  • 1

    Hope Longlip Johnson stays on and Mallett becomes available to coach Bokke…

    … we definately need more quality names in the hat..

    Well, with Snor declaring he is available, there are’nt any QUALITY names in the hat yet…

  • 2

    Mallet would never throw his name in the hat with SARU in it’s current form, there would have to be wholesale changes before he would even consider it. However, I think he will have just as much problems coaching England, but from a different view point. The England coach has his hands tied by the clubs, and unless that changes, it will be much of the same.

  • 3

    It’s the off season, no one here…..

    Rugby league on the box…England V Aus….League is just so odd!!

    Oh, I see Puma is still alive….sigh of relief.

    So what about Nick Mallett as coach? Actually I think Graham Henry is all lined up, with Shaun Edwards as his sidekick!

    Rob Andrew will be looking for a job as will Big Martin!

  • 4

    Why would Nick Mallett go back to S.A ?

  • 5

    3 @ Blue Bird:
    Yip, all quiet on the Western Front….

    Watching a bit of French Top 14 rugby on the telly

  • 6

    @ grootblousmile:
    Bet you are hating every moment!! 🙂 I mean, the FRENCH !!

    Gloomy November day here….Bonfire Night…so we do the firework display thing later!

  • 7

    6 @ Blue Bird:
    Worked till 02:00 this morning… so slept very late… very late!

    Was a lovely summers day here.

    Actually enjoying just doing nothing… not often that I get the chance.

  • 8

    6 @ Blue Bird:
    Oh, it must be Guy Farks day, if it’s fireworks time…. hehehe

  • 9

    @ grootblousmile:
    Exactly….That’s the chap.

    We will burn his effigy a bit later!!

  • 10

    9 @ Blue Bird:
    Some of the Old Guard loyal to the British Monarchy here in SA…. (some English Folk) used to commemmorate Guy Fawkes Day here in SA too… but most Afrikaners, including my famly, never gave a toss about the event… after all it’s got nothing to do with our country.

    … much like Thanksgiving and Halloween is something the Americans do… and nobody else…

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