8. Paul Gustard
Former Leicester, London Irish and Saracens flanker Gustard was given a coaching position at Saracens under then Director of Rugby Eddie Jones, before working with Brendan Venter as defence and forwards coach.
It was his work with Saracens that led to the Australian head coach appointing Gustard to be in charge of England’s defence at the start of the year. England’s impressive defence has been at the heart of many of their victories in 2016, including beating Argentina with only 14 men on the field for all but 4 minutes of the match.
Like Borthwick, Gustard is a man who is constantly striving to improve as a coach and could well be in the mix to replace Jones as head coach.
9. Vern Cotter
If any anyone can compete with the reported £830,000 salary Cotter currently gets at Montpellier than is if the RFU.
The influence of ‘Stern Vern’ was beginning to shine through for Scotland at the end of his spell in charge, with young players he had blooded coming of age and playing some wonderful rugby.
He brought an unfancied Scotland side within a controversial penalty of a Rugby World Cup semi-final. The resources at his disposal with England would surely be attractive.
10. Steve Borthwick
Former Bath, Saracens and English lock Borthwick moved straight into coaching before the conclusion of his playing career, working in a player-coach position at Saracens before becoming forwards coach with Eddie Jones’ Japan.
Even though Borthwick does not have the years of coaching experience as some other candidates, he is obsessed with improving himself as a coach and has a pretty impressive record in his fledging career.
The ex-England lock will also be part of Warren Gatland’s coaching team for the Lions tour in the summer of 2017. With the progress he is making, could Borthwick be the perfect man to step up to coach the team he once captained?