Rugby: Clive Woodward, England's World Cup-winning coach, is set for New Year talks which could result in him leading the 2005 Lions tour to New Zealand.
Woodward has admitted he has been approached by Bill Beaumont, chairman of the Four Home Unions, although he stressed he has not yet been offered the job.
"I've had a couple of phone calls from Billy Beaumont, but that's about all it is so far," Woodward said yesterday. "Billy asked me if I was interested in it and I said I would talk to him after I get back from holiday."
Woodward is bound for a family skiing trip to Verbier in Switzerland after England's match against the New Zealand Barbarians at Twickenham today.
Woodward's unparalleled success with England this year makes him the overwhelming favourite for the job, with Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan the only
real alternative at the moment given the
fact that Scotland's Ian McGeechan
recently stepped aside and Wales coach Steve Hansen is returning home to New Zealand after next year's Six Nations championship.
One possible obstacle to the appointment could be Woodward's desire to take the core of his England backroom set-up with him. "I would not want to do it unless I was working with the majority of the people I work with here," he said.
If Woodward is appointed it would result in him coming up against former Wales coach Graham Henry - who was yesterday named to replace John Mitchell as the All Blacks coach - in two consecutive summers as England are due to play two Test matches in New Zealand in 2004.
The New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) threw the position open after the World Cup semi-final defeat by Australia last month, citing coach Mitchell's difficult relationship with the media and sponsors as the main reason for the decision.
"My experience, I think, was a key factor," the 57-year-old told a news conference, after the former Wales and Lions coach signed an initial two-year contract. "I have been dreaming about getting this job for 30 years, so I have been trying to plan and get myself right for it."
NZRU chairman Jock Hobbs said Henry had an outstanding record at national provincial level and in the Super 12 competition.
"In the board's view, Graham Henry is the most qualified person to coach the All Blacks and achieve the very high standards we expect of them," said Hobbs.
Henry, a former secondary school headmaster, was coach of the Auckland National Provincial Championship (NPC) side that won four titles from 1992 to 1997, and the Blues, who won the Super 12 in 1996 and 1997 and were beaten finalists in 1998.
Wales then wooed Henry and he coached the principality to 22 wins, 13 defeats and a draw from mid-1998 to March 2002.
In the middle of his Welsh tenure, Henry led the Lions on an unsuccessful tour of Australia.
He returned to New Zealand in 2002 and as technical adviser helped steer Auckland to back-to-back NPC titles and the Blues to the 2003 Super 12 crown.
Mitchell said he had paid the ultimate price for last month's World Cup semi-final defeat by Australia.
Speaking yesterday, Mitchell said he was disappointed not to get his job back, but wished Henry luck and said his successor would bring a "new perspective to New Zealand rugby".
"At the end of the day I've paid the ultimate price for the loss in the World Cup semi-final," said Mitchell.
"I know I made mistakes. . . I know I did not handle the media well and that I could have done more with sponsors and the NZRU management.
"But I am leaving All Black rugby knowing that over the past two years I have built a young and exciting team that has played superb rugby. I take great pride in my coaching record."
