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LONDON - Waikato coach Warren Gatland has dismissed speculation he is in line to step into the English coaching void created by the departure of Andy Robinson today.
And Rob Andrew, England's elite director of rugby, said he was not considering stepping into the role and there would be no rush to find a replacement.
Robinson was forced to resign from the job to avoid being pushed after having lost eight of their past nine games.
Gatland, who has previously coached Ireland and English club Wasps, was one of a half a dozen coaches mentioned as possible replacements.
But he told Radio New Zealand it was simply media speculation and he was not interested in the job.
Gatland returned yesterday from a holiday in Britain and said his phone has been going "a hundred miles an hour" with inquiries which has become rather irritating.
Andrew, who took up the elite director role in September, remains the bookmakers' favourite to step in but said it was not a possibility even in the short-term.
"It was not part of the thinking that has been going on in the last few hours -- because that's all we've had," the former England first five-eighth told a news conference at Twickenham.
"We now have to take our time and reflect what is required next in the context of the rest of this season, the World Cup and beyond the World Cup."
Among the other leading contenders to succeed Robinson is attack coach Brian Ashton, although the names Gatland and South African Nick Mallett have also been mentioned in the media.
"All options are being looked at," said Andrew.
"We have a group of people who are potentially suitable to be an England head coach but they are not just sitting at home hoping someone gets the sack, they are employed elsewhere. They may be in the RFU coaching system, they may be somewhere else in the world.
"I don't think it has to be an Englishman, it's something we have to consider in the context of long-term planning, particularly in the area of coach development."
Asked when the decision was made to get rid of Robinson, Andrew said that discussions had been held after England's 25-18 defeat by Argentina, their first at home to the Pumas, but that it was agreed to see out the two games against South Africa.
Although their 23-21 victory in the first game ended a run of seven successive defeats, last Saturday's 25-14 defeat, Robinson's 13th in 22 games since succeeding Clive Woodward, spelled the end.
"You have to look at everything, the last few games, the last 12 months, it's not easy for anybody. It's been an agreed termination because at this point in time we felt it was the best thing to do to move English rugby forward and Andy has been a great servant," Andrew said.
Before this month's tests Andrew said he was prepared to suffer four defeats if he saw signs of progress, but said on Wednesday that there had been little to give encouragement.
With England down to seventh in the world rankings, Andrew said he had not written off England's chances of successfully defending the World Cup next year but was realistic.
"What do they say in football?" he added.
"The table never lies".
- REUTERS
