Smith shows Johnno's not running a Tigers mafia, says Lynagh

The former Leicester captain has ex-Tigers John Wells and Graham Rowntree as part of his management team and the arrival of Smith, who has quit as London Irish director of rugby, is a necessary statement of intent, says Michael Lynagh.

The Australian World Cup winner started his career alongside Smith in the Queensland team when the dual Wallaby and Ireland international was a scrum-half. Smith later stood in at Test level for Lynagh when the fly-half was injured before opting to become Irish during his time at Oxford University.

Now, Lynagh, in his role as a television pundit, will sit in judgement of his former team-mate during England's November clashes against the Pacific Island Barbarians, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

Lynagh said: "Martin Johnson has to be careful in his new role and his regime cannot be seen as some kind of Leicester Mafia. That is why choosing Brian Smith is so important and he's not the first foreigner to help England out. John Mitchell, of New Zealand, was part of Clive Woodward's management team.

"Brian doesn't have a huge amount of baggage that he is bringing to the role and his track record is good, particularly with London Irish, who play attractive rugby with the ball in hand."

There were protracted negotiations with The Exiles before Smith was released and it is understood a substantial six-figure compensation deal had to be put in place. Smith had more than a year of his contract still to run at Irish, who will now look to forwards coach Toby Booth, former prop Neil Hatley and ex-England centre Mike Catt to steady the ship.

Catt was touted as a possible answer to England's back-play problems, but Lynagh believes the choice of Smith was logical.

Lynagh added: "Martin Johnson doesn't have any coaching experience and to have appointed Catty would have meant two key men in the team were new to the coaching scene. It would have been a massive gamble. Brian is someone who has been the director of rugby at a leading club and that experience will be vital."