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And so the uncapped former school teacher replaces the uncapped former school teacher. But Eddie Jones is a vastly different man to Stuart Lancaster, his predecessor as England head coach. He is ruthlessly ambitious and is unlikely to have the same open-door policy as Lancaster. He expects long hours, resolute attention to detail and relentless commitment; it is Eddie's way or the highway.

After eight days with the Stormers and a settlement in the region of £350,000, Jones swaps the idyllic surroundings of Cape Town for Middlesex. He is not averse to disregarding contracts. The tale of 14 different jobs in 20 years paints the picture of a rugby nomad. He has coached in Japan, Australia, England and South Africa but as CV's go, Jones' takes some beating.

"We promised to recruit a coach with proven international experience and we have done that," was RFU CEO Ian Ritchie's rallying cry when the ink had dried on Jones' new contract. Ritchie will cite the peaks of Jones' career: the journey to the World Cup final with Australia in 2003, the role he played as consultant to the Springboks in their triumphant World Cup in 2007 and his exploits with Japan a few weeks back where they beat South Africa and became the first team in Rugby World Cup history to win three pool games yet not reach the knockout phase.

He has the pedigree, the ability and the reputation which tick each box the RFU laid out when they announced Lancaster's departure but it is not an unblemished CV. When he left the Wallabies in 2005 it was off the back of eight losses in nine while his time at the Reds was dismal. But as things stand and with the availability of world-class coaches limited, Jones is the right man for the job.

He will inherit a squad hurting from the World Cup and a hugely promising group underneath that. The Under-20 side have won two of the last three Junior World Championships and players like Maro Itoje will be hitting the peak of their powers in four years' time. He is not an isolated example. Take Wasps' win over Leinster in the Champions Cup last weekend: Christian Wade, Elliot Daly and Nathan Hughes -- who qualifies for England in the summer -- would walk into most Test sides but they only have one cap between them. The talent is there, but it needs to be moulded.

© Steve Bardens - World Rugby

If Jones instigates root and branch overhaul then he will face the same challenge Lancaster did -- attempting to shoehorn in the international experience required to win a World Cup in a four-year cycle. It will be difficult but you sense it won't faze the man.

He set out his stall on English rugby prior to getting the job. He feels central contracts are a no-brainer; he also questioned Chris Robshaw's ability in the back-row and criticised the RFU and Bath for their handling of the Sam Burgess debacle. Jones is not shy of lobbing the odd verbal grenade and the battle of the back pages between him and Wales coach Warren Gatland should be entertaining.

By the time each begins their Six Nations' campaigns in February, Jones will have his backroom staff in place. An approach for Bristol forwards coach Steve Borthwick seems likely given he was such a key figure in Japan's World Cup campaign while he may turn to Saracens -- the team he coached for the 2006-07 campaign -- for some familiar faces in Alex Sanderson or Paul Gustard. Shaun Edwards is also out of a contract with the WRU and although they are keen to retain his services, the Jones project may prove to be too much of a carrot. Then there are the likes of Alex King and Dorian West, both England internationals, who would do well under Jones.

It will also be fascinating to see what game plan he adopts with England. With the Brumbies, he plumped for an open, heads-up style of rugby with his back line boasting Joe Roff, Steve Larkham, George Gregan, Andrew Walker and Rod Kafer. At Saracens he went for 10-man rugby and virtually ignored the backs. With Japan it was an all-court style and England have the ability to replicate the Brave Blossoms' rugby philosophy. If they achieve that then any dyed-in-the-wool fan who is questioning the RFU appointing a foreigner will be appeased once they see fleet-footed backs rampaging around Twickenham.

Just as Lancaster's did, Jones' tenure begins with England playing Scotland at Murrayfield, on February 6. After the Six Nations, he will look to the three-Test tour in Australia in June, the perfect place for England to cement their credentials as a viable force again on Jones' home patch. "He is the right one to bring England success in the short, medium and long term," was Ritchie's message on Friday. But like any international job, the honeymoon period will last barely minutes and results will be expected from the outset. One thing for sure: the next four years will not be boring.