England Under-21s’ coach Mallinder likely to join senior coaching squad

ENGLAND could add a Grand Slam-winning coach to their backroom team for this summer’s tour of Australia.

Jim Mallinder, who masterminded England Under-21s’ Six Nations clean sweep during the past two months, is a likely recruit for senior squad duties when the struggling world champions tackle Australia in Sydney on June 11 and Melbourne six days later.

Pressure is mounting on head coach Andy Robinson and his support staff, with Phil Larder, Joe Lydon and Dave Alred all in the firing line following another miserable RBS 6 Nations campaign that saw England lose three successive games to equal last season’s dismal fourth-place finish.

There has even been speculation surrounding a possible Twickenham return for 2003 World Cup supremo Sir Clive Woodward, currently director of football at Southampton.

And while that appears a far-fetched scenario, given Woodward’s commitment to carving out a soccer coaching career, the Rugby Football Union hierarchy have already launched their annual Six Nations review.

England have now slipped to sixth place in the International Rugby Board’s official world rankings, trailing leaders New Zealand, South Africa, Six Nations champions France, Australia and Ireland.

They have lost eight of their 16 Tests since Robinson replaced Woodward some 20 months ago, while the post-World Cup Six Nations record shows eight defeats from 15 starts.

It all adds up to the most unconvincing reign of any world champion country in rugby union history, and an injection of fresh coaching talent is essential.

Mallinder, it is understood, heads the list of contenders to join Robinson. He is employed by the RFU on Twickenham’s national academy staff, and would work with England’s backs, leaving Lydon facing an uncertain future.

But strong cases can also be made for Wasps’ highly-rated former rugby league star Shaun Edwards and Northampton coach Paul Grayson, the former England fly-half.

Robinson should see his wish granted in seeing England through to their 2007 World Cup defence, after which the 41-year-old’s contract expires, yet changes beneath him are the most likely short-term outcome.

New faces on the field are certain in Australia, where Newcastle centre Mathew Tait, Leicester wing Tom Varndell and Sale Sharks flanker Magnus Lund can all expect Test match opportunities as Robinson combines a need for fresh talent with resting senior players.

Next season though, promises to provide another round of battles between the RFU and Guinness Premiership clubs over player-release time before Test matches.