Mallett Perhaps Back in RFU Post

Nick Mallett says he will not be an immediate replacement for Martin Johnson as England coach - but would consider the job after the Six Nations.

The former Italy and South Africa coach also made it clear he would not report to a director of rugby.

"The ball is in the [Rugby Football Union]'s court. I am sure there will be a plethora of coaches applying for this position," Mallett, 55, told BBC Sport.

"I am now [out of the running] but wouldn't rule myself out in future."

He added: "I'd like to spend some time in South Africa with my children, who I've hardly seen over the past four years, so the timing is not good at the moment."

Mallett, who revealed last week he was approached by the RFU about applying for the post, added: "I've made it clear that a head coach should report to the board, not a director of rugby.

"You wouldn't find Graham Henry or Jake White reporting to a director of rugby. I didn't report to one and neither did Clive Woodward.

"The responsibility of the team is with the head coach and that's how I would see the job in the future," said Mallett, who interviewed for the England job in 2006 before Brian Ashton was appointed.

Johnson resigned after a troubled World Cup campaign in New Zealand, which saw his team beaten by France in the quarter-finals and involved in a string of off-field controversies.

English-born Mallett, who guided the Springboks to 17 consecutive Test victories in 1997-98 and into the semi-finals of the 1999 Rugby World Cup, said the timing of the vacancy is a problem for him.

"The England job would entail taking the post in time for the Six Nations, which would mean the new manager would have to be in place by 1 December to get to know all the players.

"But who knows, there might be a situation in the future where the timing is better. My family comes first and there are issues within the RFU that need to be resolved."

Mallett Out of England Scrum

Former Italy and South Africa coach Nick Mallett has ruled himself out of the running to replace Martin Johnson as England manager.

Mallett, 55, revealed he was approached by the Rugby Football Union this week about applying for the post.

"I was interested to hear what the RFU had to say," said the South African.

"After mulling it over for a few days and discussing the opportunity with friends and family, I have decided that I will not be making myself available."

Mallett, who guided the Springboks to 17 consecutive Test victories in 1997-98 and into the semi-finals of the 1999 Rugby World Cup, added: "I am happy to have returned home to South Africa after a tremendous four-year term with the Italian national team.

"We are settled in Cape Town and it is my wish to be able to enjoy time with my wife and kids after four years in Italy."

Another former South Africa coach, Jake White - who led the Springboks to World Cup glory in 2007 - also ruled himself out of contention.

His representative, Craig Livingstone, told BBC Sport: "Jake has a contract for another four years with the [Australian Super 15 side] ACT Brumbies and won't be available for the England job. It's just bad timing."

But Eddie Jones, who led Australia to the 2003 World Cup final, declared he would be interested in the England manager's job.

"You'd always be interested in coaching England," he told BBC Radio 5 live. "It has got a fantastic domestic competition, very, very good players and you have just got to get the right programme in place and they should be good enough to win the next World Cup."

The 51-year-old, who was also part of South Africa's coaching team when the won the World Cup in 2007, said he would not be put off by the chaotic state of the RFU's senior management.

"Over the last period of time England rugby has lost its way and you'd have to question the people in place now," Jones said.

"That is the challenge of getting it right. If you get it right, the benefits are absolutely enormous. That is the challenge of it and that is the exciting part of it.

"You've got to find the right style of play, just as [Sir Clive] Woodward did over that period [up to 2003], work with the clubs and ensure the players are in peak condition."

The search for the new England manager is being led by RFU operations director Rob Andrew, who is now looking to work alongside his fourth England boss, having also been at Twickenham when Andy Robinson and Brian Ashton were in charge.

England defence coach Mike Ford told BBC Radio 5 live that it was "inevitable" that Johnson's backroom team - which also comprises forwards coach John Wells, scrum coach Graham Rowntree and attack coach Brian Smith - would change once a replacement as manager took over.

"There is an air of inevitability," said Ford. "We're grown men and we understand being a coach we're there in the firing line. That's the way we like it.

"The new guy has obviously got to pick his own coaching team and I think that's right and fair. We'll see in the next few days what Rob Andrew says to us. He might want to keep us in the organisation in some way because of our experience. We'll just see."