Robocoach v Redeemer

Tomorrow, he will undergo in Wellington the unique experience of being interviewed for his own job, knowing that his campaign has only fuelled the critics who are contemptuous of his U-turn.

"Just how stupid does he [Mitchell] think rugby followers are?" The Dominion Post asked. "Mitchell today is standoffish, arrogant and someone even his colleagues find hard to like. None of those attributes are required in the new All Black coach."

After the All Blacks returned home, it initially seemed unthinkable that Mitchell would be retained.

Critics stuck in the knife - former All Blacks manager Andrew Martin thrust hardest, calling him a "control freak" - and lobbied for the experienced Henry, technical adviser to the Auckland Blues during their thrilling Super 12 triumph, to take over.

Former Wales and Lions coach Henry - his "Redeemer" tag stems from his early successes in the principality - has kept his own counsel about Mitchell and the job.

One popular scenario is that Henry, who unlike Mitchell never played for the All Blacks, should bring in Steve Hansen, his successor as Wales coach, as his assistant while former captain Sean Fitzpatrick comes in as team manager.

Yet the tide may have turned belatedly in Mitchell's favour, with senior players such as Leon MacDonald offering him a public vote of support and one poll revealing that 60 per cent of New Zealanders believe he should be given a second chance.

New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Chris Moller has dismissed all the backbiting from Mitchell's opponents and the shameless lobbying from his supporters as "a sideshow we could all do without".

Moller reckons none of it will sway the three-man panel who should name the new man by Christmas.

Yet, intriguingly, what could sway them is the nature of England's success. Mitchell, who of course used to be Clive Woodward's assistant, is unashamedly using his old mentor's World Cup triumph as the thrust of the argument as to why he should be retained.

"It's continuity which will bring stability, which will bring consistency," he said this week, bullishly pointing out how his team had taken attacking rugby to a new level in 2003 with their world record of 81 tries in 14 Tests.

"Clive Woodward has had a sevenyear programme; 16 England players returned from the '99 World Cup and 10 of them played in the World Cup final.

"I see no reason why I should give up something that's taken less than two years to construct. Why should I give the job to somebody else after what I've gone through in the last two years to prepare such an exciting team?"

He still may not have to. The odds on him retaining his job - he's 2-1 while Henry is 6-4 favourite - have shortened since Martin Johnson's autobiography, just released in New Zealand bookshops, has offered such a damning portrayal of Henry's already much criticised leadership of the defeated 2001 Lions.

If the incumbent keeps his job thanks to this bit of unsolicited help from an old work colleague, then the England captain and his team-mates, who still all think a good deal of "Mitch", will be more delighted for him than many will be in New Zealand.