The race to replace Eddie Jones: Pros and cons of the five leading candidates as next England coach

With Eddie Jones signalling that his coaching tenure will come to an end after the World Cup in France in 2023, Telegraph Sport examines some of the options when the Rugby Football Union begin their succession plans.

Andy Farrell

Pros
The Ireland head coach is the Englishman with the highest-profile international job and can draw on a wealth of Test experience as a key assistant under Stuart Lancaster’s England tenure as well as two Lions tours under Warren Gatland in Australia in 2013 and New Zealand in 2017. A big man with a big personality who could cope with the spotlight that comes with the England job and is popular with the players.

Cons
Ireland’s victory over England in the final Six Nations match in Dublin relieved some growing pressure on Farrell. Ireland are in a rebuilding phase and his reputation is likely to be defined during the next two years culminating in the World Cup. The question remains, too, as to whether he would want to return to Twickenham after his sacking in 2015. He had already turned down the offer by Jones to be England defence coach in 2018.

Steve Borthwick

Pros
Another English candidate with extensive international experience under Jones at Japan and then as his key lieutenant with England through to the World Cup in 2019. Like Farrell he also has Lions experience from the tour of New Zealand in 2017. That experience would make him best qualified in any succession plan to ensure a smooth transition from the Jones regime. A hugely-passionate Englishman, he has already made an impressive mark in overhauling Leicester Tigers and commands respect and loyalty from his players.

Cons
The timing may be too soon for Borthwick, given his relative lack of experience as head coach, particularly on the international stage. If the RFU want a big-name Test coach, as was their criteria when they went after Jones, Borthwick’s time may realistically come after the 2027 World Cup. He is not renowned for being comfortable with media duties, which is a key requisite of the job.

Warren Gatland

Pros
His record with Wales was outstanding, winning the Six Nations Championship on four occasions, including three Grand Slams and twice reaching the World Cup semi-finals despite the poor performances of the Welsh regions during his 12-year tenure. His Lions record, despite the tour defeat by South Africa this summer, has also given him a unique insight into the strengths and weaknesses of the four home unions. His return to New Zealand would put enough time between his Wales tenure by 2023. Imagine what he might be able to achieve with England’s player pool.

Cons
The RFU missed the chance to hire Gatland back in 2007, when he was approached about an office-based director of rugby position when he wanted to remain in a hands-on coaching role which he was offered by Wales the following year. The rest is history and the question remains whether he would have the appetite to take on the top job in England after such a long-standing connection with Wales. The Lions too have declared an interest in retaining Gatland for the 2023 tour of Australia.

Rob Baxter

Pros
Of all the Premiership options that may be considered by the RFU, Baxter is the Englishman with the most impressive coaching journey, having brought Exeter up through the lower echelons to their historic Premiership and Champions Cup double in 2020. That he has done so by building a superb culture and team ethic rather than heavy investment in marquee players is even more impressive and suggests a management style that would be well-suited to the England job.

Cons
Baxter’s commendable loyalty to Exeter has restricted his ability to gain international experience and that commitment may also prove a major stumbling block. Time and again when asked if he would ever be interested in the England job, Baxter has highlighted his loyalty to Exeter. Like Mark McCall at Saracens, day-to-day involvement in club rugby seems more appealing than the high-pressure and intermittent bursts of international duties. And yet…

Scott Robertson

Pros
The New Zealander offers a dark horse option for the RFU. With other options like Pat Lam under contract with Bristol for the next seven years, and with Australia’s Dave Rennie likely to remain in place for the Lions tour Down Under in 2025, Robertson would bring a fresh southern hemisphere approach and perspective, having gained a reputation as one of the most progressive and intuitive club coaches. His Crusaders side are renowned for their attacking prowess, having won three successive Super Rugby titles and Super Rugby Aotearoa in 2020 and 2021.

Cons
Despite being overlooked for the All Blacks job following Steve Hansen’s retirement, the New Zealand Rugby Union are likely to have Robertson ear-marked as one of their leading candidates to succeed Ian Foster and the promise of that opportunity may prove too attractive to resist. Despite playing for Perpignan in France, he has little first-hand experience of northern hemisphere rugby.