Former Wales captain Sam Warburton says Warren Gatland would be the "perfect fit" for England and a move for the New Zealander makes complete sense.
Gatland is the name on everyone's lips right now, with the former British Lions coach coveted on both sides of the Severn Bridge amid intense pressure on the shoulders of Wayne Pivac and Eddie Jones respectively.
Poor autumn records endured by Wales and England has led to mounting speculation surrounding the futures of their head coaches, with both unions conducting reviews into what has happened over the past six weeks or so. They are set to conclude next week and their findings made public shortly after.
READ MORE: The Wales v England battle for Warren Gatland and who holds the ace card
Gatland is the preferred choice to replace Pivac at the helm, with a World Cup less than a year away. The Kiwi obviously knows the ropes in Wales, while he also has close working relationships with England players from his time as Lions head honcho.
He is believed to have met with both the WRU and RFU and could face a seismic personal decision.
Warburton, Gatland's skipper for Wales and the Lions, believes despite England's disappointing showing in the autumn that they can still be contenders in France next year, and feels the 59-year-old would be the man to get the best out of the quality they possess - all the while acknowledging his views will not go down well in his homeland.
"The only people who will know the real story will be the ones in that camp, but if England do decide to change their head coach, I know one thing for certain: Warren Gatland would be a perfect fit," he wrote in his Times column. "I will probably be hanged in Wales for saying this, because many want him there to replace Wayne Pivac, but it just makes so much sense.
"Warren is a proven international coach. He has a fantastic relationship with Owen Farrell and many other England players from the British & Irish Lions tours. I certainly know how much he rates Owen as a player and competitor.
"And England suit Warren’s game plan down to the ground. That plan is about physical dominance, middle third of the field game management, kick chase and relentless line speed in defence, as well as ferocious breakdown competition. England have got the players to do all that in buckets."
Warburton believes in Farrell and Marcus Smith they have players who are capable of playing attacking rugby at speed, something he says isn't visible at present, but "smart coaching" can remedy that.
"Is there enough for Warren to turn things around before the World Cup? I think there is," Warburton concluded.." He will sharpen the training week and he won’t try to reinvent the wheel. He is used to short time frames with the Lions. As I said, he would be perfect."
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