Richards new England coach?

Trojan · 15-12-2006 2:57am #1

I reckon so - they've no choice!

http://sportcrazy.net/rugby/dean-richards-will-be-new-england-rugby-coach/

No, it hasn’t happened yet, but that’s my bet now and here’s why: on Tuesday, Eddie Jones committed himself contractually to the Queensland Reds. He’s definitely there until the end of May 2007 when the Super 14 ends - it’s not beyond the bounds of possibility that he’d be available for England after that.

This afternoon Sir Clive Woodward’s pick for the job, Nick Mallett, is reported to have ruled out the England job, at least according to his current boss.

I met with Nick yesterday and he told me he had no interest in the England job. We’re in negotiations to extend his contract for a further year.

The list of potential candidates for England coach now looks something like this:

* Rob Andrew (ruled himself out)
* Warren Gatland (boss ruled him out)
* Eddie Jones (ruled himself out)
* Martin Johnson (ruled himself out)
* Nick Mallett (boss ruled him out)
* Dean Richards (said he “could be persuaded”)
* Jake White (worked hard to cement his tenuous hold on the South Africa job - unlikely to quit before Rugby World Cup 2007)
* A N Other (is there anyone else suitable who’s available? I don’t think so)

Jilm · 15-12-2006 8:24am

Brian Ashton getting a promotion to Head Coach - even just for the short term - might be a possibility.

Trojan · 18-12-2006 12:59am

I don't think Ashton will get it because Andrew doesn't want to appoint from within the current administration. A new, outside candidate is what he needs politically. English rugby is far from appointment by merit at this stage.

matt cork · 18-12-2006 12:00pm

i hope to god it isn't richards (another robinson) or ashton.

my money is still on gatland which i think it is why the appointment may not be completed until after the six nations.

gatland has a proven track record and has great knowlegde of the the english game

the only thing i can think that would stop him would be he's family as it was them who ended his reign at wasps

Trojan · 19-12-2006 2:13am

BBC reckon it's Ashton too, Jilm.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/english/6189565.stm

England could have a new head coach as early as Wednesday - and the hot tip for the job appears to be Brian Ashton.

Ashton, England's attack coach under former boss Andy Robinson, is thought to be the choice of new Rugby Football Union elite director Rob Andrew.

Andrew will make his recommendation to the RFU management board on Wednesday, although any decision will need ratifying at a meeting on 9 February.

But, in practice, Robinson's successor could be installed straight away.

"We will have a new coach, all being well, on Wednesday," RFU chairman Martyn Thomas told BBC Sport on Monday.

An Tarbh · 19-12-2006 6:59am

I don't think the RFU are going to hold what Robinson did against Ashton, at the end of the day they were Robinson's calls and Ashton would be far better working off his own hymn sheet than someone elses.

Simple thing with England though, their players are overplayed and the current setup is seriously lacking in talent so not much a new coach can do on that score.

matt cork · 19-12-2006 11:06am

An Tarbh wrote:

I don't think the RFU are going to hold what Robinson did against Ashton, at the end of the day they were Robinson's calls and Ashton would be far better working off his own hymn sheet than someone elses.

Simple thing with England though, their players are overplayed and the current setup is seriously lacking in talent so not much a new coach can do on that score.

i would love to see a regional league to compete in europe and cup comp's but i can't see the clubs agreeing to this. imagine a london team with wasps / queens / sarries / irish? hmm rfu and clubs would never agree to this

shame as i personally have seen how its worked here in ireland and in scotland and think i would make a huge difference

Richards new England coach?

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