The Guardian's Rob Kitson looks ahead to what could be a key week for the RFU.
"England are poised to appoint a caretaker Six Nations coaching team featuring Stuart Lancaster and Graham Rowntree, but its confirmation will depend on a meeting of the Rugby Football Union board on Wednesday. No decisions have been ratified and World Cup coaches and backroom staff are sweating on the outcome.
While it is understood Lancaster and Rowntree, whose RFU contract still has six months to run, are willing to take temporary charge, one Twickenham insider suggested that Rob Andrew's leading role in the elite rugby department was under threat. "Rob's still fighting battles and he's got to survive tomorrow," the source said. "That's the primary concern for everyone in the department. Then it's a case of what we can do in the short term. No one has spoken to the coaches because everything is on hold until after the meeting."
After another hectic day, on which Martyn Thomas was elbowed aside from his role as acting chief executive and Stephen Brown took his place, the RFU is all but resigned to the fact it will not have a full-time replacement for Martin Johnson until after the Six Nations. Nick Mallett, Jim Mallinder, Eddie Jones, John Kirwan, Wayne Smith and Jake White have expressed an interest in taking charge of the England team. The World Cup coaches John Wells, Mike Ford and Dave Alred, all the subject of unflattering leaked comments from players last week, appear to be on borrowed time. Those in the firing line are still seething at the breach of confidentiality. "It's unforgiveable," said a member of the coaching staff. "I don't think any player will ever contribute to an anonymous questionnaire again."
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