Six Nations: Rejected John Kirwan backs Nick Mallett to become next England coach

JOHN Kirwan has backed Nick Mallett to be the next England coach after being told by the Rugby Football Union’s head-hunters that he was not experienced enough to be considered.

Kirwan has coached at three Rugby World Cups with Italy and Japan, but knew his best chance was if the RFU wanted “a breath of fresh air” and were prepared to take “a risk” over the appointment.

They were not. Head-hunters Odgers Berndtson got in touch and informed Kirwan he was not being put forward to the interview stage because he had not coached a leading rugby nation.

Kirwan was told there were two other candidates who did meet that criteria – likely to be Mallett, the former South Africa coach, and ex-Ireland boss Eddie O’Sullivan. England’s current interim coach Stuart Lancaster has also reached the interview stage.

But if the RFU’s brief is for a coach with sustained top-flight international experience, then that would count against him no matter what England achieve in the remainder of the RBS 6 Nations.

“They contacted me saying I wouldn’t go on to the next stage because they had a couple of other candidates that had more international experience than me,” Kirwan said. “They were looking for someone with a higher international profile. I understand that. They started out with something in mind and they are heading down that track.

“I think Nick Mallett would be perfect for it. Nick is the ideal mix. He is highly intelligent, he understands what a team needs to win and he gets the best out of players. It will be a high-pressure situation (coaching England) into a home World Cup (in 2015). I think Nick would be a great candidate for the job.”

The RFU will be conducting interviews over the next three weeks with a view to making an appointment before the end of the Six Nations.

Lancaster has restored a sense of pride in the national team and his work to clean up the image of English rugby has impressed Twickenham executives.

But one of the key factors the RFU’s new chief executive Ian Ritchie must weigh up before making his recommendation to the board is Lancaster’s lack of international inexperience compared with the track record of a potential candidate like Mallett or O’Sullivan.

Lancaster has been in charge for three Tests – two dogged away wins against Scotland and Italy followed by a home defeat to Wales, where the disappointment of the result was eased by an encouraging performance. England still have France and Ireland to play.

Kirwan, who put himself forward for the interim job, has been impressed by Lancaster and believes he is Mallet’s main rival – but he warned the RFU not to base their decision on results alone.

“Stuart so far has been saying and doing all the right things. So far he has been good. I think it is between those two,” Kirwan said.

Mallett coached South Africa on a 17-Test unbeaten run and past England into the semi-finals of the 1999 World Cup before enjoying club success with Stade Francais and a four-year stint in charge of Italy.

Critics of the Mallett option argue that the highlights of his career were achieved over a decade ago – and in 2009 he selected the Italian flanker Mauro Bergamasco to play at scrum-half against England.