INTERNATIONAL NEWS: ROB ANDREW will sit down with Martin Johnson on Monday and ask the World Cup-winning captain to write his own job description as England manager. If Johnson then does not accept the role, England will turn to the South African Jake White.
It became clear yesterday that Wednesday's six-hour meeting of the RFU management board effectively gave Johnson carte blanche to do whatever he considers necessary to make England successful again - the most powerful remit since Clive Woodward loosened Twickenham's purse strings on his way to creating the 2003 world champions.
The board believes it has given Andrew, its elite director of rugby, permission to produce a package that will tempt Johnson, but it has left the White option in place should Johnson reject the offer.
At about the same time in June that England will be on their tour of New Zealand, Johnson's wife, Kay, is due to give birth to their second child. It has been a difficult pregnancy, as was the first, and if Johnson rejects England to stay with his wife then Andrew will ask White to step in as head coach.
White, ousted after winning the World Cup with South Africa last October, has long hankered after the England job and was undiplomatic enough to speak of his interest during the tournament, when he also said he would not seek to renew his contract with the Springboks. In the event, his board acted first. Since then he has ruled out applying for the vacant Ireland job, saying it was England or nothing.
Either way there appears to be no place in a future England set-up for Brian Ashton, who is said to be "sanguine" and "bemused" by events since his side came second in the Six Nations.
According to Simon Halliday, a long-time friend and until the end of the season a member of Club England, the grouping that theoretically vets proposed England appointments, Ashton might still consider working under Johnson, if the former captain is appointed.
"Brian is pretty pragmatic," said the former England centre, recently appointed non-executive director at Bath. "He just wants to get his tracksuit on and coach. . . because that is what he is good at.
"Despite everything I think he would make himself available."
- Guardian Service
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