But the 49-year-old’s coaching career has not quite lived up to his playing one with coaching roles at the Singapore national team, Natal Sharks and the Tongan Sevens team the highlights on his CV.

But with apparent first-choice Wayne Smith under contract with Super 15 side the Waikato Chiefs until September Campese has offered up his services should head coach Stuart Lancaster require them.

“This isn't a joke," said Campese. "People will say, ‘Oh, there's Campo sounding off again.’ But that's not the case.

“I would love to help out if they were interested in talking to me. I think I could bring something, even if it was only in a consultancy or advisory role.

“I know Brad Barritt well from his time with the Sharks and he knows what I can do.”

After Andy Farrell turned down the role to remain at Saracens Lancaster has been forced to move quickly to have a coach in place before his side head to South Africa.

And while Smith, who was part of the All Blacks World Cup winning coaching set-up last autumn, appears to be the man in the long term reports suggest that London Irish’s Mike Catt has already been offered the role on an interim basis for this summer’s tour.