Sky Bet have installed Nick Mallett as the favourite to succeed Andy Robinson as the next permanent coach of Scotland.
Mallett, Johnson and Lineen in contention for SRU vacancy
Sky Bet have installed Nick Mallett as the favourite to succeed Andy Robinson as the next permanent coach of Scotland.
Robinson announced his decision to step down on Sunday, after Scotland's 21-15 loss to Tonga made it 10 defeats in their last 13 games, leaving them 12th in the world rankings ahead of the 2015 World Cup draw next month.
Mallett, who has coached at club and international level, including his native South Africa, is
5/4 to take up the vacancy having been out of work since leaving his position with Italy after last year's World Cup.
The 56-year-old is not without competition, though, with Scotland's current attack coach Scott Johnson, who failed to win in his three games as interim coach of Wales in 2006, the next in line at
100/30.
Sean Lineen, who was made Scottish Rugby's head of player acquisition in the summer following a six-year stint as coach of Glasgow Warriors, is one of just two Scots to make our list of candidates - he's third favourite at
9/2. However, the 50-year-old lacks head-coach experience at international level.
Also in the running is Irishman Michael Bradley at
8/1. Currently head coach at Edinburgh, the former scrum-half holds the advantage of having taken charge of his country during a tour of Australia and New Zealand in 2008, although he suffered defeat to both nations.
Should the SRU show real ambition, though, they may make an offer to Jake White, the South African who coached the Springboks to their 2007 World Cup triumph - he's available to back at
10/1 with
Sky Bet, but the 49-year-old is currently contracted to Australian Super Rugby side Brumbies.
Of the outsiders, former scrum-half Bryan Redpath, capped 60 times by Scotland as a player, is a
12/1 shot while former Ireland boss Eddie O'Sullivan can be backed at
14/1 and former All Black Todd Blackadder, currently in charge of Crusaders, completes the list at
16/1.
