EXCLUSIVE: World Cup winning captain Johnson set to take charge of England again

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The 39-year-old World Cup-winning captain is to meet the RFU's director of elite rugby Rob Andrew within the next 48 hours, an interview which could result in his appointment as the new supremo in time for England's two end-of-season Tests against the All Blacks in New Zealand.

Born leader: Johnson was an inspiring captain in the 2003 World Cup campaign

The meeting, the first between Johnson and Andrew, takes place against a backdrop of persistent uncertainty over the fate of head coach Brian Ashton.

Surprisingly, the two did not meet during the two-month review into the World Cup which ended with Ashton being re-appointed along with fellow coaches John Wells and Mike Ford, all on one-year rolling contracts.

Johnson, angered by England's 36-0 capitulation to South Africa at the start of the World Cup, ended the clamour for his return at the height of the review by declaring: 'This is not the right time for me to get involved.'

His willingness to meet Andrew is a clear indication that the time may now be right to consider a management role without delay.

'Coaching and managing are very different,' said Johnson when ruling himself out of contention before Christmas.

'England have to make the right choice at a very important time of transition.'

Johnson, clearly seen as a manager not a coach, will only be interested if the prospective new job gives him full responsibility, which would inevitably include the right to hire and fire his coaches. Ashton, who discussed the Six Nations campaign with Andrew on Tuesday, would not be certain to keep his job under a regime headed by Johnson.

Nor was he the type of manager Ashton had in mind. 'I don't want anyone who is going to interfere with the rugby side of things,' said Ashton before the 33-10 win over Ireland.

Andrew will hope to have Johnson's agreement in time to recommend him to the RFU management board next week. In that event, one of the ex-captain's first moves will be to bring Shaun Edwards back from Wales.

A Johnson-led regime would also lessen the likelihood of England hiring an overseas coach like Jake White or Eddie Jones.