England Rugby’s caretaker coach for the Six Nations could be given a permanent position if he impresses during the Championship.
Rugbyweek
The Rugby Football Union (RFU have promised to name a replacement coach for Martin Johnson on a temporary basis before Christmas.
England will contest the Six Nations in February and March but tour South Africa in June and the temporary coach was expected to may way for the permanent coach before June.
However RFU board member Ian Metcalfe said, “If they do a fantastic job they will be considered alongside the others who are interested.”
The RFU’s head of elite development and England Saxons coach Stuart Lancaster is expected to be named temporary coach but former Italy and Japan coach John Kirwan is also in the running.
Northampton Saints coach Jim Mallinder has said that he is interested in the job on a permanent basis and English born former South Africa coach Nick Mallett says he would be interested in the job but only after the Six Nations.
“We haven’t said that whoever holds the job on an interim basis should not be entitled to be a candidate for the job on a permanent basis,” Metcalfe, who also chairs the RFU’s Professional Game Board told the BBC.
“It’s the job of a lifetime in one sense – an opportunity to coach a team through the Six Nations and demonstrate their ability on the European stage.”
Morning GBS, I doubt the interim coach will get the long term job, the board are just trying to make the job more attractive. I think that they are after Mallet in a big way, and it would take a miracle to turn the team around in such a short space of time, but good luck to the care-taker!
Mallet is the man for this job.
1 @ Just For Kicks:
Yip, I recon they’re dangling a carrot in front of the Caretaker Coach… in order to hopefully do OK in the Six Nations.
Mallett should be a shoe-in for the permanent England job… and I’m more and more leaning towards the belief that Gert Smal will become Bokke coach.
3@ grootblousmile:Gert Smal, I think, is the only person that will appease the SA public, it will just be interesting to see the baggage that he is forced to bring to the party.
4 @ Just For Kicks:
Yip…. wonder what he’ll be forced to do when choosing his assistant personnel.
For him to leave Ireland, they would probably have to promise him no bullkakkas of that nature though!
So many good names have cropped up as assistants – Nienaber, Carel, etc, hell, I’d even be not unhappy to see AC there as long as it was under Smal (won’t happen, I know), but there is plenty of talent amongst coaches to help, as long as he can pick his own team.
6 @ Just For Kicks:
Nienaber should definately be roped in as permanent Bokke Defensive coach.
Backline coaches in SA are a real problem… Fleckie is not the real deal yet and I have my reservations regarding Slapchips. Carel du Plessis has been away from Active Coaching on a high level for too long now…. and the immediate question is how he’ll be able to add value seeing as the New Law Interpretations has radically affected backline attack.
Mathew Proudfoot would make a massive contribution as scrumming coach… maybe even as forwards coach. Then there is still Os du Rand & Balie Swart for scrumming coaches.
Bokke need a very good Conditioning coach who works well with the 5 Super Rugby Franchises in preparation of the Bokke.
I suppose we’ll see in due time what falls from the tree!
Also of course depends on who the Head Coach wants as his assistants.
If Gert is selected of course, he’ll add real value in the forwards department himself.
Time to rope in Wayne Smith!!!
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