Dean Mumm endorses Rob Baxter for England coaching role

Australia lock Dean Mumm believes Exter Chiefs' Rob Baxter has all the credentials to become the head coach of the England team.

England's current head coach Eddie Jones has achieved phenomenal success maintaining an unbeaten streak ever since he took from Stuart Lancaster following the World Cup debacle. Under Jones, England won the Grand Slam for the first time in 13 years during the Six Nations 2016 and also completed their maiden series whitewash of 3-0 against Wallabies in Australia.

The 56-year-old said grooming an English coach to succeed him will also be a part of his role with the Rugby Football Union. He also urged the board to send the upcoming English coaches to be part of the Super Rugby teams which will help them in developing our game.

Recently, RFU chief Ian Ritchie said the board is open to discussion with Jones on extending his contract which was originally supposed to end with the 2019 World Cup as he believes most of the current English coaches are without international experience.

However, Mumm believes Baxter can be a good successor to Jones and is confident of the Exeter Chiefs boss succeeding at international level.

"I would definitely endorse Rob for the England role," said Mumm of Exeter boss Baxter's credentials to coach England.

"It's fair to say he's doing a reasonable job at the moment.

"The way Exeter have risen in the last few years is a great showcase for what he can do."

Baxter joined Exeter in 2009 and on his very first year, he helped the Sandy Park based club gain a promotion to the Aviva Premiership and in the previous season they reached the final as well.

He also won the Director of the Year award in the 2011/12 season of the Aviva Premiership and was also nominated for the same in the previous season.

"I think the extra four years now can give him tremendous experience in the Premiership level," said Mumm.

"Obviously results will matter over the course of that time.

"Now you're at that top and forcing that different type of pressure, that will really show whether you've got that readiness.

"But I would wholeheartedly endorse him for it."

Mumm feared his career with the Wallabies might be over when he made a switch from Waratahs to the Chiefs in 2012 but his performances in the English Premiership allowed him to make a comeback to the national team in the 2015 Rugby World Cup and is currently preparing himself to play in the ongoing Rugby Championship game against Argentina at Twickenham on Saturday.

The Australian lock was full of praise for Exeter and Baxter for making him understanding the game better.

"The perspective with which I came to the UK in 2012 was thinking that I wasn't going to have a Wallaby career beyond that point," said Mumm.

"So to come back now flying in with the Wallabies, there's a real sense of pride in that, and one that you don't take any moment in this jersey for granted.

"Every chance you get to wear it and do something in it is particularly important.

"Without a doubt I'm a better player for having gone to Exeter.

"The mental perspective is so important in your career, how you mentally drive yourself is just as important as the physical elements.

"And that was certainly improved through my time at Exeter.

"Also I think down there it's a real love of the game, the tribalism and those elements, they're really exciting and can really reinvigorate you as an individual.

"And I certainly got that in terms of the way they handled it, but also some of the enjoyment in some of the more amateur-style approaches to some of the things they do off the field. That was a terrific experience for me."