Many coaches would have ducked the challenge. To follow in the slipstream of the man who brought the World Cup to England is the ultimate no-win situation and Andy Robinson made it clear yesterday that, to the end, he asked Sir Clive Woodward to remain as England's chief coach.

"I made it very clear to the RFU and Clive that my wish was for him to stay on as head coach," said the 40-year-old Robinson."I wish him all the best. However, I have now been offered an opportunity, which I have accepted, and I'm looking forward to England's first training session on September 20."

Those who know Robinson and watched his playing and coaching career at Bath say he will not be fazed by the chance of staking a claim to the job full time.

"Don't expect the England team that runs out in the autumn against Canada, South Africa and Australia to look like a team Clive Woodward would have picked," said a friend last night. "Robbo has his own views about some of the players, and they are not necessarily the same as Woodward.

"They think very differently. Woodward is more lateral thinking - then again he's more lateral thinking than almost anyone else. Robbo has his own views, but there hasn't been a whisper of disagreement that's escaped the England camp. Robbo wouldn't think about undermining Woodward; it's not the way he works."

The way Andy Robinson works has not changed much since he grew up in Paulton, Somerset, the son of a sergeant who taught at the former police college at Canonsgrove and who Robinson idolised.

Ray Robinson played cricket and rugby for Somerset but in later years was confined to a wheelchair by multiple sclerosis. He lived with from the illness for 26 years and when it finally blinded him, a friend stood by his side at his son's matches and gave a running commentary.

"Whatever I've done, he was behind it and I still look at it that way," said Robinson after his father's death. "The one thing he instilled in me is that, no matter what happens, you must always enjoy your life and you must always take up the next challenge. So, despite defeat, despite disappointment, you keep your feet on the ground and you look forward. That's something deep inside me."

The three Robinson boys used their father's college as their own training ground. "It's where they perfected their spin passes and got super-fit," said John Morrison, the former England A second row, last night. "They also used the first-team bath as their swimming pool."

After school at Taunton and caps for England Under-19 and England schoolboys, Robinson went to Loughborough and despite breaking a kneecap, led the rugby team to the UAU championship in 1986. He then followed Morrison, now his brother-in-law, to Bath and the first real rugby collision in his life.

Roger Spurrell, a former paratrooper and one of the sparks behind Bath's revival under Jack Rowell, played open side - the position Robinson coveted. "It happened on a wet Monday night at the club's training ground at Lambridge," a friend said last night. "It wasn't just a battle of wills. Spurrell was one of the hard men of English rugby and took exception to a 21-year-old taking his position."

Nonetheless, Robinson made his debut for Bath and in four years did not miss a match. He was capped for England in his second full season under the then new captain, Will Carling.

In 1989 he went with the Lions to Australia, knowing it would be a disappointing trip because Findlay Calder, the captain, also played open side.

"The thing you have to understand," said Morrison, "is that everyone said Andy was too small to be a rugby player, let alone a forward, but he won seven caps for England and was voted player of the year."

When Rowell left Bath for England Robinson was nominated by the players to take over as coach. "One Saturday he was playing, the next he was looking after a team which contained the likes of Phil de Glanville [later to become England captain] and Mike Catt.

"It was then that he met up with Woodward. I think Clive had just left London Irish and was between jobs. Andy asked him to look after the backs, so I guess Clive is returning the favour."

1964 Born Taunton

1986 Joins Bath after degree at Loughborough University

1988 First England cap v Australia in Sydney

1987 Picked for Lions tour to Australia

1989 European player of year

1992 Captains Bath to cup and league double

1997 Succeeds Brian Ashton as Bath coach

1988 Bath become European champions

2000 Appointed England coach under manager Clive Woodward

2004 Named England coach for autumn Tests