So, World Cup-winning coach Graham Henry has told The Telegraph that's he'd be happy to get a call from the Rugby Football Union (once his fishing trip is over). He's made it clear he does not want Martin Johnson's job, but has said he's possibly interested in playing a role in developing English coaches and players. But where would this Great Redeemer start? Here's five things Henry could bring to English rugby.
1. Precisely what England need and want most - a winning mentality. Henry has no interest in being a gallant or brave loser. Even when the All Blacks play well and win convincingly, it's not often that you'll see him relaxed, because he's always aiming to stay those extra yards ahead of the opposition. He expects the very best from himself, his team and his players all the time.
2. Lack of sentimentality. Whereas England have clung on to ageing players well past their best, Henry has shown himself to be a ruthless operator – even to his most loyal servants. Consider Mils Muliaina, who would have been left stranded on 99 caps had Israel Dagg not been injured for the quarter-final at the recent World Cup. Henry would never have taken an unfit Andrew Sheridan or half-speed Mike Tindall to the World Cup – no matter how well they'd played in the past. Henry picks on form, full stop.
3. Tough but in-house discipline. You'll hardly ever hear Henry defending errant players or spilling the beans on punishment meted out. And Lord knows, he's had his fair share of problem children. Late nights, boozy nights, that kind of thing. But Henry is known for quietly taking the offenders aside, working with them on any problems, then saying to them, 'now prove I did the right thing by not cutting you loose'. Consider the brilliant performances from Cory Jane and Dagg against Australia after they'd been seen at 3am in an Auckland bar a week earlier. Henry hasn't forgotten what he learned as a headmaster in Auckland. He's used to dealing with naughty boys – another plus for England.
4. An incredible eye for talent.Henry is the master at spotting a potential World Cup winner. That player may come from some lowly league, but if Henry thinks he has something special to offer, he'll hook up the player with the right coaches and to see if promise can be turned into genuine performance. England's midfield might just become a thing of beauty again under his tutelage.
5. A master planner. Henry leaves nothing to chance – be it the game plan, the fine detail, the well-being of his players, the rehab when things go wrong. Have a read of the redhead-bluehead distinction in Mark Reason's interview. Fascinating. And very reminiscent of Sir Clive Woodward in that regard. And then he puts the right people in place to look after many of those aspects to ensure the team focuses on training and playing well. Henry openly admitted he got many things wrong in 2007. But he went away, wiped the slate clean, identified the weaknesses and strengths, and started planning for 2011. The Webb Ellis Cup in his hands speaks for itself.
