White early favourite for England job

Cape Town - Former Springbok coach Jake White is the early favourite to replace Stuart Lancaster as England boss.

Lancaster stepped down from his position as head coach on Wednesday after steering England to World Cup disaster this year when they became the first host nation in the tournament's history not to progress out of the group stages.

And, according to local bookmakers Sportingbet, White is the likeliest to get the job despite not having coached an international side since winning the 2007 World Cup with the Boks.

White can be backed at 4/1 odds, with new Stormers coach Eddie Jones second favourite at 5/1.

Jones has just touched down in Cape Town to begin preparing the Stormers for Super Rugby next season after he guided Japan to three wins at the World Cup, including their stunning triumph against the Boks. 

New Zealander Wayne Smith is third favourite at 15/2 odds, while other realistic names on the list include Exeter Chiefs coach Rob Baxter (7/1), Bath coach Mike Ford (11/2), Northampton Saints coach Jim Mallinder (13/2), Harlequins Director of Rugby Conor O’Shea (10/1) and Australia coach Michael Cheika (9/1).

An outsider at 40/1 is former All Black coach Graham Henry.