Patriotic Smith is torn over switch to England

Wayne Smith will decide whether to accept an offer from Stuart Lancaster to join the England coaching team within the next 10 days.

Smith met Lancaster in Durban last Friday and believes England have the potential to challenge New Zealand’s supremacy and win the 2015 Rugby World Cup on home soil.

But before he is in a position to accept the job offer, Smith has to come to terms with the prospect of severing ties with the All Blacks and coaching directly against the team he helped guide to last year’s World Cup triumph in Auckland.

England play New Zealand at Twickenham on December 1 and Smith said: “It is possible (I could coach England against the All Blacks). I have to search inside myself to see whether I can do that or not.

“They are a team on the up with a lot of resources. I was very impressed with Stuart Lancaster. He has a clarity of vision that I think will make a difference up there.

“I think they will be a tough proposition over the next few years and therein lies one of my decisions. I am patriotic and I love the All Black jersey. That is why it is such a big decision.”

Lancaster appears to be closing in on recruiting Mike Catt as an interim backs coach for England’s three-Test summer tour of South Africa.