New Zealand great John Kirwan is happy to step into the void created by Martin Johnson’s resignation as England coach – even if it means operating within the existing Rugby Football Union (RFU) set-up.
With English rugby still reeling from Johnson’s resignation, administrative infighting and a series of leaked and damning reports into a shambolic World Cup campaign in New Zealand, many might regard taking charge of England now as a poisoned chalice.
But not so 46-year-old former All Blacks wing Kirwan, a World Cup winner as a player back in 1987.
And Kirwan, who bowed out as Japan coach at the World Cup after previously being in charge of Italy, would be prepared to take on the England post on a temporary basis, with the side set to begin the defence of their Six Nations title in February.
Although the likes of former South Africa and Italy coach Nick Mallett and World Cup-winning New Zealand assistant boss Wayne Smith have expressed concerns about the RFU’s structure, Kirwan has no such worries.
“I understand the situation the RFU is in at the moment, but I’m a little bit different to the other coaches,” said Kirwan, in London to help with Saturday’s Heroes Rugby Challenge in aid of injured armed forces personnel at Twickenham.
“Others like Nick (Mallett) and Wayne (Smith) are saying no because of the structure above, but I’m at a different stage of my career.
“I’m a young coach, I enjoy risk, I love attack. Someone needs to get in there and sort the team out.
“If I’m not part of the future I’m prepared to do it as long as I’m set up to help these boys get back on the pitch and win football games.
“They have a great team and a great Premiership competition, but there are some structural issues that need to be sorted out.”
Former Gloucester boss Dean Ryan, who has also been linked with the England job, said the RFU had a big job on its hands to restore belief in its ability to run the game.
“The events of the last six months have led to a lack of confidence in the governing body,” Ryan said.
“They are in a state of flux, in a void at the moment and pretty quickly someone needs to restart building trust.”
There have been suggestions Stuart Lancaster, currently coach of the reserve England Saxons, and England scrum coach Graham Rowntree form a caretaker England management duo.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Well if you want two backs coaches in there then us Aussies can probably lend you Jim Williams to 'fine tune' your forward pack! Maybe you'd be so kind as to send good Ol' Bloodgate Deano down in exchange?
Ben S
Roar Guru
VC, Mallett is an old school Bok coach. I don't think he could get the best out of what is a very promising generation of players. The Italy job is probably the easiest job in world rugby. The reason I make reference to running rugby is because I believe we have players who are suited to that type of game. Obviously rugby requires a balanced approach, but I think that's just a matter of coaching. Rugby is simple, get quick ball and win the game regardless of your preferred tactic, running or kicking etc. I'd wager that almost anybody (John Wells excepted) could work that out and so I don't think we need a big name like Mallett to engineer that. -- That's true, jeznez, but Smith has worked in England and has been involved with the best side in the world for a long time. I think Kirwan is innovative, but England is a huge job, and I believe that Smith could be a good mentor for him.
jeznez
Roar Guru
that would be glorious - would love to see it
jeznez
Roar Guru
Wouldn't Kirwan/Smith be a bit back heavy in the coaching pair? Either one with a good forwards coach would make more sense to me.
Muzza
Guest
Give them PDV.
Muzza
Guest
You seem to be assuming that there aren't such things as injuries. As above, Japan have limited resources and you get several key players forced to do more ball carrying and being more exposed to picking up injuries. Kirwan needed to be sure his top guys were available for Tonga and Canada. So he rested them. Fair enough. So let it rest.
Johnno
Guest
Kirwan Crowley Bernard La porte Lievermont PDVilliers Mallet Jake white Dick Muir Dean Richards Neil Back Jak Rowell Brian Ashton or maybe even Rob Andrew may put his hand up who know rod kafer has coaching experience he may put his hand up he has worked in UK coaching top division.
Viscount Crouchback
Guest
Interesting thoughts. I've never been wholly convinced by the "cult of Mallett", not least because he seems oddly Anglophobic for someone who attended my alma mater (Oxford). That said, Castrogiovanni speaks very highly of him. I'm not overly concerned about running rugby. I just want to see England play smart rugby. To be fair, though, smart rugby and running rugby are probably synonymous for the current batch of England players.
James Harris
Guest
kirwans decison to rest key players for the all blacks was an awful one. Considering how well their A team went against the French it would have been far better if they had played with their best and could have seen how they compare to the best side in the world, instead we had a 80 point drubbing, and nobody likes to see that. Besides Japan will qualify for 2015 anyway as they are the strongest in Asia anyway. Sure wins over Canada and Tonga would be nice, but the plan failed anyway, and it looks like they really haven't progressed that much.
SAMURAI
Roar Pro
Kirwan went to the RWC with the goal of winning two games (Canada, Tonga), which were after the All Blacks match. Given the limited depth of his squad, he had no choice but to rest his key players (Of course, Japan did not end up winning those games...). In all four pool games, Japan played great attacking rugby, with better players a Kirwan-coached team would be pretty damn good. Every nation at the RWC played at least one match with their B team.
Ben S
Roar Guru
Good grief...
Ben S
Roar Guru
My logic behind plumping for Kirwan and Smith is that they are associated with running rugby. The majority of the teams in the Premiership are playing a good brand of rugby, and as the academies improve a lot of the younger players are far more attuned to playing ball in hand rugby than their professional predecessors a few years ago. England has a collection of good young players who can play exciting rugby, and I think Kirwan and Smith could get the best out of them. If Smith was a lame duck then he wouldn't have lasted with the All Blacks. Wayne Smith was part of the trio that built NZ rugby back up to the top. Let's not forget how vulnerable they were pre-Henry. Let's be honest - Mallett coached a good Springbok side, but his attempts to introduce running rugby to SA rugby was an abject failure. He did well at Stade, but look at the side Stade had back then (same argument for Smith). IMO he has done absolutely nothing for Italy. All he does (like Jake White) is talk a good talk. How could he improve England?
johnny-boy
Guest
Kirwan taking the cowards option in playing Japan B against the All Blacks - I enjoy risk I enjoy attack - my backside. He's a goose.
Viscount Crouchback
Guest
I find it difficult to judge the likes of Kirwan and Mallett. How does one rate a coach whose recent experience has been with the likes of Japan and Italy? Then with Wayne Smith there is the similar problem of how one rates a coach who has been working as part of a triumvirate and with the best players in the world. For me, though, the "brains trust" principle is an excellent one and this would make me lean towards the mooted Smith/Mallett combination. If you look at the past three World Cup winners, they all had at least two world class figures at the apex of their coaching team (Woodward/Robinson, White/Jones, Henry/Smith/Hansen). There's absolutely no doubt whatsoever that England desperately need to reintroduce some "smarts" to the way they approach their rugby.
mace 22
Guest
Agree stilly about the over analysis in the rfu. Read an article a few years ago from a english journalist, who said the difference between the southern hem teams and england. Is that in the south if a particular part of their game is poor they iron it out at practice the next week, where as england will wait until the end of the season have an enquiry and will either change the coach or players.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
I agree with Ben S but don't think it will happen. Conservatism and over analysis will do their heads in again. The politics of it all would make anyone's head spin. Would like to see Kirwan running something stronger, I think he has earned his chance. A temporary gig with the English for the 6 nations would be ideal and give the pommies time to get a political appointment that suited them.
Ben S
Roar Guru
Would really prefer to see a real thinker like Kirwan in charge of England rather than Mallett. Kirwan and Smith in tandem please.