Former Newcastle owner Sir John Hall likened Rob Andrew to Keegan at a time when the latter had turned the Magpies into serious Premiership contenders.

Andrew had just arrived at Kingston Park as player-boss and with Hall's chequebook at his disposal, he helped Newcastle win the Premiership title in 1998.

That success was not to be repeated, with the Falcons adding just two cup triumphs to their roll of honour until Andrew's appointment as England supremo.

Mixed views shroud Andrew's regime in the north east.
Some point out that the former England fly-half, who won 71 caps, was given considerable freedom to shape Newcastle, and view one Premiership title and two cups in just under a decade as a poor return.

Others see the way he has established the club in the most passionate of football territories and the development of young England players such as Jonny Wilkinson, Mathew Tait and Jamie Noon as evidence of his talent.

It was Wilkinson, do not forget, who delivered the 2003 World Cup and last season Andrew fielded the first all-English 22 in the Guinness Premiership, leaving little doubt over his national allegiance.

Andrew has been a fierce and frequent critic of the Rugby Football Union and England management, emerging as a champion of the clubs in the ongoing feud with Twickenham.

Selection, player treatment and planning have all felt Andrew's icy blast and in appointing him director of elite rugby the RFU have shown an understanding of the political minefield he will be negotiating over the coming weeks.

The 43-year-old is seen as a visionary and in 1999 was asked to produce the 'blueprint for success', a document designed to outline the structure and direction of English rugby.

None of his ideas were implemented but his reputation as a imaginative thinker was sealed - contrasting strongly with his playing style which was innately conservative.

Andrew was a natural sportsman, a Cambridge Blue at rugby and cricket, but had to endure endless criticism of his tenure as England's number 10 shirt.

His strength lay in his kicking game and a no-thrills approach that played to England's strengths with a juggernaut pack grinding opposition into submission.

He frequently held off competition from the more naturally gifted Stuart Barnes for his place in the side and worked hard at improving his weaknesses.

Andrew was not always appreciated but his place as one of England's finest fly-halves is guaranteed.

Now the RFU and all England fans will be hoping the same can be said of his managerial career at Twickenham.