So news is that Jake White says he’s up for grabs to make a return to the helm as Springbok rugby coach. Obviously he is joining the bandwagon of critics who are out to get current coach Peter De Villiers.
How long is De Villiers in his current post? Just on two seasons maybe? A coach doesn’t go from average to good (in terms of results) to bad in the space of a season, without there (possibly) being extenuating circumstances.
Injuries have dealt the Boks a cruel blow, especially as far as fetcher Heinrich Brussouw and Fourie Du Preez, who sparkled last season, are concerned. Then we have the case of Bakkies Botha (surely you can’t blame the coach for on the field indiscipline?) and not to mention the lack of form of some overworked players like Bryan Habana.
The new recruits disrupted the nucleus of the team that had success last year and the season before. And of course, while the new additions did not exactly flop,it could have been predicted that it would not have been plain sailing for the World Champion Boks this year.
Now De Villiers is not the most astute communicator; so maybe it’s time for Saru to tweak the communication lines a bit; they are the ones who employed him? A training course, or some kind of orientation; we don’t know.
White himself was on a five-match losing streak in 2006, before a narrow win over England 25-14 at Twickenham probably saved his bacon. Jake White had his detractors, he had his favourites; he was no perfect coach and probably had many run-ins with management.
In 2005 and 2006 he must have felt the wrath of fans. Yes, he might have won the World Cup, (thanks in the main to a very favourable draw) but decided to bow out while on top, with quite a few dollars to boot. De Villiers at least has the Tri-Nations to show, as well as a series win over the British and Irish Lions – that Jake still can’t append to his CV. Jake White earned his moolah (money) and decided to leave.
So why now talk of a return as if he is the Messiah of Bok rugby? My take is that De Villiers whose coached junior Bok sides to success cannot be that bad a coach everyone is making him out to be. Any coach needs fine-tuning.
I’m not sure what Jake is doing now, but wasn’t he consultant to the Lions that preformed so poorly last season in the Super 14. Is it fait accompli that White can resurrect an impotent Bok team at the moment? Fact is no! No guarantee.
Another fact is that this is South Africa and once a “person of colour” is at the helm he will never easily appease the Bok masses, who are largely in the main people who believe that the previously much-maligned Bok emblem, is their birthright and nothing else! Hoskins and his executive would be silly indeed if they would revert to White to coach the Boks.
Maybe they’d do some of us a favour, dig in their heels and show these so-called Bok supporters that they are not going to give the man they have given a contract to coach the Boks, the chop just yet!
Georg
Guest
@mctheblack Dick Muir as headcoach? You must be out of your mind! He was the guy that oached the Lions to 13 consecutive losses in the S14! I don't know where you live, but in South Africa Muir is as unpopular as Gary Gold, even more so than PDV himself. There are two choices outside of PDV: Heyneke Meyer and Jake White. But given the politics Saru will most probably stick with PDV and pray that the senior players stay fit and coaches the side to another WC victory.
mactheblack
Guest
Sorry Shauny (and Jake).... White won the T3 in 2004; he did not win the T3 in 2005 unfortunately; my humble apologies indeed. Nonetheless, I feel White will still be a backward step; if they are going to remove PDV, I'm rooting for Allister Coetzee. If not then Heineke Meyer or Dick Muir. As for Georgy's comment that "it's only the case with a bunch of die-hard politicians" shows that he is either unaware of SA's past or is simply just plain ignorant. And it doesn't deserve further comment
Ben S
Roar Guru
He's certainly been successful, but then the Bulls kicked the most and off-loaded the least, which is the Springbok problem at the moment. I think that Meyer's sojourn at Leicester has proved that imitating the Bulls is not necessarily a good thing. I'd give Eddie Jones the reigns on his own and see what happened.
suzy poison
Guest
White is not the solution, either. Agree we need an attack minded coach, who still values defence. It's all academic anyway, P Divvy will not get kicked before the World Cup. He is the Teflon coach, he can say anything and do anything, it’s impossible for him to get fired. Most of us agree, we think he is inept, and it’s a shame, that the world has endure such an idiot as a National coach. The only benefit he serves, is come the World Cup, the Saffas will fly under the radar, as no-one, including myself gives them any chance, with the clown at the helm.
Shauny
Roar Rookie
@ mactheblack Lets clarify what you've said and maybe you can do some further research before posting... Jake White won the Tri-Nations in 2004 and lost the 2005 T3 on bonus points as both AB's & Boks won 3 games each. Granted 2006 was a tough year with only 2 wins as well as a 2 point loss to the wallabies in Aus. The big difference between White & PdV is that White took over from a horror story and built a team with up from the ashes of a complete 2003 failure. He put structures in place and no one can say he didn't do a good job, his job was to rebuild springbok rugby and win the WC - A job well done. PdV took over a championship team and the senior players pure class plastered over the cracks which were forming. However like any team, you need the coach to be the brains and put his foot down. PdV can't do that, he lacks the technical knowledge to take the team to the next level. SARU knew this when they appointed him and said as much when they said his appointment wasn't a rugby decision. The rest of the world doesn't really understand what the Springbok team has to overcome to be competitive. Most if not all top teams just have to play rugby, but the boks have to play politics as well...its sad. All that said, I don't believe White is the way forward...he's making himself out to be a hero...and is loving the opportunity of saying ..."i told you so to SARU" after the way he was treated. He could have fought for his job if he wanted it so bad, but chose to go out on a high....well he shouldn't be crying to return now...
Lee
Guest
How about Ludeke, the Bulls coach has won 2 Super 14 titles in 3 years, and 3 Currie Cups.
South Africa Hotels
Guest
Last year PDV was a refreshing change when we won the Tri nations and the Lion tour. I agree, this year a poor performance from overworked Boks and first choice players injured was never going to bode well. Love him orhate him, PDV needs to stay on for the WC of we are going to mount any real defence. Who knows those injuries may be a blessing in disgiuse as the new boys learned some hard and valuable lessons, which could prove crucial next year.
Georg
Guest
White did not leave willingly - he tried his best to stay on. As for the "much-maligned Bok emblem" - it's only the case with a diehard bunch of black politicians. De Villiers's outpourings has become just too much to bear, the latest about Bees Roux. He is now also under fire from the ANC.
Ben S
Roar Guru
I think that PdV is clearly quite inept, but I also think White would be a step in the wrong direction. I'm not sure Meyer would be a great choice either. When various teams around the world are embracing a rugby philosophy that revolvs around attacking play then IMO the last thing SA rugby needs is a conservative coach simply looking to tweak things here and there.