KEY POINTS:
It was merely wishful thinking by the English press that Warren Gatland was in the frame to replace the deposed Andy Robinson.
Taking charge of a battered and demoralised England side 10 months out from the World Cup had career suicide written all over it - which is
why the Rugby Football Union were left with no option but to promote Brian Ashton.
It made sense. Ashton was already on the payroll and, at 60, he could say yes to the sort of challenges which could spell the end of the career of a younger coach.
He has been contracted through to the World Cup, with a longer term appointment to be made after that.
By November next year it might not be wishful thinking to link Gatland with the job.
Possibly, Robbie Deans might be interested too.
No matter how hard the RFU try to deny it, Ashton is a stop-gap appointment. Hailed a coaching genius in some quarters, Ashton has a patchy record. His supporters talk of his vision and gift for helping back divisions express themselves and play with width.
The realists, though, point to the lack of evidence. Ashton had 12 dismal months as head coach of Ireland where he won a solitary game. He was then drafted into the England set-up under Clive Woodward and given control of the backs.
England were certainly more expansive in that period, but Woodward recently claimed Ashton didn't understand the realities of test rugby, that he struggled to see that performance had to lead to results.
If Ashton was the long-term solution the RFU would have offered him a long-term contract. But the RFU know the England job will carry a number of pull factors in 11 months and that better coaches than Ashton will be interested.
The 350,000 (NZ$950,000) salary will be hard to ignore and a four-year contract will provide the breathing space to embark on a major rebuilding programme rather than looking for short-term solutions.
There is also an air of optimism that, with Rob Andrew installed as director of rugby, the civil war between the clubs and the RFU will soon end. With co-operation and new agreements in place, England's leading players might, at last, get the rest and space they need to perform at the peak of their ability.
The interest level, though, of Gatland and Deans will be determined by the strength of the push factors.
Both men are off contract at the end of next year and both have their sights set on All Black positions.
Gatland is prepared to bide his time and work his way through the New Zealand system. Since arriving from Wasps in 2005, he's won the Air New Zealand Cup and been promoted to assistant coach of the Chiefs.
If he's offered head coach at the Chiefs in 2008, he'd probably take it with a view to positioning himself for the next time the All Black job comes up.
But if his progression stalls at the end of next year, applying for the England job becomes a real possibility.
As it will for Deans who, after seven years with the Crusaders, will be ready to move on next year.
Another Super 14 job is unlikely to hold much appeal. Only a job with the All Blacks will keep Deans in New Zealand.
Deans' position is similar to that of Graham Henry in 1998. Henry had served his Super 12 apprenticeship and was desperate to coach the national side. When he sensed his time would not come he took an offer to coach Wales.
Deans might take the same view especially as Henry was able to return to New Zealand five years later and win the All Black job.
If Gatland or Deans were to stick their hand up, both would be outstanding candidates for the England job and a tremendous loss to New Zealand.
Which puts pressure on the New Zealand Rugby Union to clear up the All Black situation.
Henry, Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen are all off contract at the end of next year.
If Henry knows he's going to stand down regardless of the outcome in France, the NZRU should make that public well before November next year and confirm there will be a contestable process.
If there is change at the top of the chain, it will impact further down. Maybe Deans will be named the new head coach of the All Blacks or pick up a position as an assistant. Maybe Gatland will get involved or maybe current Chiefs coach Ian Foster will be hired as an assistant freeing the path for Gatland to take over at the Chiefs.
Maybe none of those scenarios will pan out but at least if there is advanced knowledge of a forthcoming contestable process, Gatland and Deans can make informed decisions about their future.
If the NZRU keep things hush-hush they might just find that England hire one of New Zealand's best coaches from right under their noses.
