As England eye up Ashton's successor, why didn't they hire Jake White in the first place?

Whatever the result today, this time next week Ashton will probably be gone, and blazer boy Jake White will be hot favourite to take over. But why the hell wasn't he appointed after the World Cup? Everybody knew Jake wanted it, and sadly everybody also knew England didn't really want Ashton, however harsh that may have been.

White steered South Africa to World Cup final victory over England last year and has been out of work since as Springbok rugby has fallen into farce without him. I assume White didn't get the job before because the RFU didn't have the balls to hire a foreign coach. Ridiculous considering they're quite accepting of foreign players wearing the white of England!

Having seen how well Wales have done with their foreigner surely now win / lose or mauled by Ireland, England are going to want one of their very own. If they do, the RFU could do a lot worse than talking to White...