England's Rugby World Cup failure appears likely to cost several high-profile figures their jobs and transform the way the national team is run. Such is the mood of anger and embarrassment within the Rugby Football Union, that Martin Johnson and his coaching team face an increasingly uphill battle to retain their roles, while Rob Andrew's future within the hierarchy is once more in doubt.
Even if Johnson indicates he would like to continue as England's manager through to 2015, it appears support for him outside the squad is ebbing away. Instead of a potentially cosy internal debrief conducted by Andrew, the RFU has commissioned an independent review led by the former England prop Fran Cotton, who has already expressed his concern at the lack of on-field progress under Johnson. With the squad's off-field behaviour also now the subject of a fresh investigation over the next fortnight by the RFU's legal officer, Karena Vleck, the pressure for change is mounting.
It will also reawaken speculation linking Sir Clive Woodward with a return to Twickenham, a scenario which will be easier to facilitate if neither Andrew nor Johnson are around. There is no question that will be among the options Cotton and his fellow panel members will explore as the RFU seeks to distance itself from England's grim campaign. Johnson has been given until Monday week to indicate if he wishes to apply for another term as manager.
The prospect of maintaining the status quo receded completely following the intervention of Hugh Robertson, the minister for sport, who called for a no-nonsense external review as a matter of urgency. Martyn Thomas, the RFU's acting chief executive, had already spoken to Cotton and made clear Andrew's internal findings would now carry little weight. "As far as I'm concerned the critical review is what an independent external review comes up with," said Thomas. "That's what I'll be looking at and putting before the board."
Andrew's authority was further undermined when Thomas denied the former had already been installed as the RFU's professional rugby director, effectively the role he held before being shoved sideways in January by the previous chief executive, John Steele. "I would not make an appointment of a professional rugby director in the light of what has happened here until such time as I've received Fran Cotton's report," said Thomas, himself still the subject of a review into the precise circumstances in which Steele left the union.
It is a snake-infested mess, summed up by the fact the RFU now has five reviews into various aspects of its business going on simultaneously. Thomas, though, insists the political uncertainty has not had an impact on the team and believes the players have to take their share of the blame. "I certainly believe the players have let [Martin Johnson] down. Whether he has been culpable or not it would be wrong for me to prejudge. I wouldn't say his credibility has gone but there are question marks over the coaches and what they've done for him. England should deliver better than it has, and the off-field performances have been wholly unacceptable. I cannot accept that we should ever be out of the top three, with our playing strength and the skills we've got. We have got to be in the top three within the world rankings almost as of right."
Ominously for Johnson, Cotton is among those who have already expressed public frustration about England's sub-par effort in New Zealand. Thomas has also reiterated that the RFU is pushing for a quick decision from Johnson regarding his future. "It's not his decision whether he remains in post, I want to make that clear," said Thomas. "I've given him seven to 14 days [from the day England flew home] to advise me of his position. What I need to know is if he wishes to be considered for appointment on 1 January. That's not to say he will or will not be appointed.
"If Martin walks and we have to appoint a temporary coach for the Six Nations, that's fine. We've wasted a lot of time since 2003. I really want to make sure we get this right this time. We have to ensure we don't just rush in willy-nilly and say: 'We have to appoint someone come what may before the Six Nations.' That may not be good medicine."
Whoever takes England onwards, according to Thomas, may not be allowed to appoint their own coaching team. "One of the things Fran will look at will be how we handle that going forward," admitted Thomas. Most self-respecting coaches would treat such an idea with disdain but England, unlike virtually every other nation, still sees virtue in a performance director who has a hands-on role with the national team.
"Should we have an England manager or should we have an England head coach?" repeated Thomas, directly responsible for Johnson's appointment in place of his predecessor, Brian Ashton. "One will be guided by what Fran says in that respect."
Does that mean Woodward might be back in the frame? "I'm not sure Clive Woodward wants to come back as the manager and be back in a tracksuit. I'm not sure that's the answer."
Cotton's review will report back at the end of November, by which time the separate investigation into off-field wrongdoing will be complete. Thomas says "appropriate action will be taken" where necessary, with suspensions from future games a possibility. The RFU also hopes to have identified a new chief executive by 14 December, assuming anyone feels brave enough to take the job. "When talking to recruitment companies they described the RFU business model as more complicated than a FTSE 100 company," said Paul Murphy, the RFU's chairman. The convulsions at Twickenham are far from over.
