Eddie blows through

Western Province director of rugby Gert Smal has been dealt a harsh lesson in the cut-throat world of professional rugby with the imminent departure of Stormers coach Eddie Jones today.

Less than three weeks after officially becoming Stormers coach, Jones is believed to already be in London, where he will be unveiled as England's new coach soon.

Smal will have to front a media briefing today to announce Jones's departure

Speculation has been rife in England that the Rugby Football Union had approached Jones, 55, after Stuart Lancaster fell on his sword following England's humiliatingly early exit from the recent World Cup.

Jones's about-turn, a week after he declared he was "committed to the Stormers", has left Smal in an unenviable and embarrassing position.

The director of rugby produced a coup by signing Jones, who is one of the world's most respected coaches. At the World Cup he guided Japan to a 34-32 win over the Springboks.

Japan also won three of their four pool matches, though they failed to advance to the last eight.

Though Jones will face a huge backlash in Cape Town, it's not entirely a situation of his own making.

He agreed to take the Stormers coaching job before the World Cup in England and has a release clause in his contract should a plum international coaching job become available.

It was just a surprise that one came up so soon.

Former Springbok coach Jake White, who is a close friend of Jones's and who was also in the running for the England job, had sympathy for both Western Province and Jones.

"Timing is not always in one's hands," White said. He also ruled himself out of the Stormers job.

On the up side for the Stormers, they are expected to earn about R2-million in compensation from the RFU for Jones's release.

Former All Blacks and Lions mentor John Mitchell could be in the frame to replace Jones, though Smal would have to offer him the same terms, which are reportedly R4-million a year for three years.

Initially the Stormers approached Mitchell before approaching Jones, but could only offer him a two-year deal, which he declined.

Later they offered Jones three years with an option of one more. If they could do that then Mitchell would certainly be interested.

"I've had no contact from Western Province for a long time, but if they turn my head, who knows?" Mitchell told The Times.

Mitchell is currently living in La Lucia in KwaZulu-Natal and is CEO of a packaging company and snack manufacturer. He is also a pundit for Supersport, so any deal to lure him would have to be attractive.

Another option for the Stormers would be to turn to Brendan Venter. The former Bok centre has had coaching success at Saracens in England and also with the Sharks in the Currie Cup.

But Venter has a thriving medical practice in the Cape and is reluctant to take up a full-time coaching position, although a short-term consultancy with the Stormers in his home town could work for both parties.

Smal, who could not be reached for comment yesterday, might look to appointing Currie Cup coach John Dobson and Under-21 coach Robbie Fleck as co-coaches for the campaign.

But after Jones the Stormers need a big name to absorb the blow of losing their man before he has even started.

HARPOON A HOUDINI

TWITTER REACTION:

?@Skuberg7: "Eddie Jones should've just said if he wanted a little holiday in Cape Town."

@KetsMamabolo: "So, Eddie Jones basically came to Cape Town to take a R15 Million holiday?"

?@StueyMax: "Eddie Jones. #ThingsToBeLeftIn2015."

?@LightningLJ: "Has there been a statement from the d?o?o?s? man himself, Eddie Jones?"