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Waikato Rugby CEO Gary Dawson is adamant Warren Gatland will be staying in the Mooloo heartland for the time being.
Gatland been touted as a potential replacement for England rugby coach Andy Robinson who looks set to get the boot for losing eight of his last nine tests.
Robinson has had a debrief of the November series this morning with RFU Director of elite rugby Rob Andrew.
Dawson says the Gatland speculation is purely that - a concept dreamed up by the British media.
Gatland has a solid record in English eyes as former coach of Wasps and Ireland and now as the man who guided Waikato to the New Zealand provincial championship.
Gatland could not be contacted this morning but Lawson said Gatland would continue to coach Waikato and assist Ian Foster with the Chiefs in next year's Super 14.
Martin Johnson is also expected to be a contender if Robinson gets the chop.
Robinson has repeatedly said he will not resign and was still saying England were "moving forward" after Sunday's defeat, their third from the four November tests.
However, the man who helped England to win the World Cup three years ago as assistant to Clive Woodward, seems certain to be shown the door to give the new regime some working time before the defence of that title begins in 10 months' time.
Universally liked and respected throughout the rugby world, Robinson nevertheless has come under fire from just about every angle.
Former England lock Paul Ackford, now a journalist, wrote in the Sunday Telegraph: "Robinson may have the confidence of his squad but he has lost the confidence of almost everyone else.
"England lack shape, they lack direction and, critically, they are losing the respect of the rugby world."
Former England hooker Brian Moore wrote on Monday: "I strongly suspect that the decision that Robinson must go was really made after the Argentina game and, if so, it should have been executed at that time because all else was disingenuous."
Robinson's schedule this week includes a series of meetings in Paris to discuss the World Cup but the chances of him still being in charge next year are rated highly unlikely by British bookmakers, who make him 4-1 on to be out of the post before the Six Nations.
If he does go, there is also likely to be a large scale clear-out of under-performing players, with captain Martin Corry widely tipped to be among them.
Robinson has repeatedly gone out of his way to praise the leadership of Corry, both men being cut from the same fearless cloth as players, but the Leicester number eight is well aware that his time as captain will forever be associated with the lowest point in England's rugby history.
"Saturday was my 49th cap and in all that time I cannot remember such a sense of uncertainty," Corry wrote in Monday's Guardian.
"Who will be head coach and captain for England's first Six Nations game against Scotland at Twickenham in February? Nobody has a clue at this precise moment, least of all me."
Corry said the constant speculation about his and Robinson's future had been unsettling and made it "impossible to focus purely on our rugby."
He added that the squad, frustrated and angry at their own performances, had gone out and "drowned their sorrows" in a pub on Saturday night.
"It had been a long and demanding month and for better of worse this was the end of a chapter."
For Robinson, it is surely the end of the book.
- NEWSTALK ZB, REUTERS
