KEY POINTS:
Warren Gatland is understood to be talking to England about taking over from Brian Ashton after the World Cup.
Doors are opening everywhere in the coaching world and the odds are shortening that Gatland and Robbie Deans will walk through one of them. Deans has held preliminary talks with the Wallabies and will be contacted about becoming head coach of Wales.
Deans is, arguably, the most respected coach in world rugby right now having built such a powerful dynasty with the Crusaders.
Gatland, too, has admirers and it was in response to a question about his interest in applying for the recently vacated Welsh post that he revealed he is in talks with another nation.
The Herald on Sunday understands that nation is England, who are looking for someone to lead a rugby revival to mount a serious challenge for the 2011 World Cup.
France, Australia and Wales are all definitely looking for new coaches after this World Cup. England are thought to be looking, with incumbent Brian Ashton appointed only last December on a short-term basis and, of course, New Zealand are possibly going to be looking with speculation rife Graham Henry will move on at the end of this campaign.
With so many positions on the market, the money on offer is predicted to reach unprecedented levels.
According to reports in Wales, the Welsh Rugby Union are prepared to pay as much as £250,000 a year.
England are reputedly prepared to pay in excess of £300,000 and possibly as much as £350,000, a figure that France are sure to get close to.
All three nations will be aware that Ireland reputedly bumped Eddie OSullivan's pay to 375,000 euros when he extended his four-year contract.
While it has been the Australian and Welsh jobs that have been the main source of speculation, the positions of England and France are possibly more interesting.
England remain ambitious and have huge financial and playing resources. The recent appointment of Rob Andrew as a director of rugby has helped the union strike a better working partnership with the clubs.
The other attraction is that the team is at one of its lowest ebbs, despite making the quarterfinals, and the new man has a golden opportunity to improve things.
In France, there has been much talk of copying the three-man structure of the All Blacks. Current captain Raphael Ibanez, former players Emille Ntamack and Fabien Galthie and current Toulouse coach Guy Noves have all been linked to positions in the new regime.
The prospect of a hiring a foreign coach has not been dismissed, making Deans and Gatland possible contenders for the French job as well.
But while Deans and Gatland are in demand around the world, it is unlikely either will commit to a long-term international contract until the All Black situation becomes clear.
Deans has been an All Black assistant in the past and would desperately love another crack, this time as head coach.
He is being openly courted by Australia who have gone on record saying they would allow him to coach the Crusaders in 2008 and then switch to the Wallaby job.
Deans has preferred not to comment on his intentions but it is understood the Wallaby job would not be his preference. He is hoping Henry will move on after the World Cup, triggering an open tender for the post.
