With the benefit of hindsight, and with the emotions of the matter having now been washed away by a hard-fought, last-minute win, it’s worth looking back on this whole ‘Jake White England coach head-hunted’ situation with a bit of objectivity.
It really was a weird week in the world of rugby rumours. The rumour itself had been around for a few weeks, but for no obvious reason it started building its own momentum this time last week.
Never mind that Stuart Lancaster is doing a more than reasonable job with the England squad in the Six Nations, either. England made it known after the post-Rugby World Cup resignation of Martin Johnson that they would go to the corners of the globe to find a suitably credentialed success-guaranteeing replacement.
Moreover, it seems that an existing contract will be a mere detail.
For his part, White raised a fair point on why he’s continually linked to any and every international job going. “When there’s [only] six World Cup-winning coaches… and I’m the only guy actively involved in [coaching], chances are that speculation will always be there,” he said on Wednesday.
Indeed, so swiftly had he been linked to the not-yet vacant South African job as they were bundled out of 2011 RWC, some Springbok players were still making their way from the playing surface of Wellington’s ‘Cake tin’.
Whatever the reasons for the continual speculation, the rumour wouldn’t go away. It got to the point last week where a mate sent me an email asking what I knew, which considering how thoroughly un-connected I am to these type of things, it was a sure sign that there was a bit more to this one than just smoke.
White’s statements suddenly changing was another.
Where previously we’d lost count of the number times in past months White had said, “I’m committed to the Brumbies for the next four years,” by Wednesday this had become, “They had a distraction last year and the last thing they need now is another distraction.”
With the Andy Friend saga still fresh in the average Brumbies fan’s mind, and almost a year on to the day, this news was the proverbial ‘déjà vu all over again’.
Whether they liked it or not and whether they wanted to get involved or not, the club was jolted into action. Chairman and CEO met with White to thrash it out, and it’s from here that the ‘will see out the season’ talk emanated.
By Thursday, we saw the interestingly worded statement from the Brumbies, confirming that White had been sounded out by the RFU, and that he had “declared interest in exploring his options.”
Sensing an ambush, the Brumbies canceled a photo and vision opportunity for the media, and withdrew White from the regular Thursday team announcement, leaving Captain Ben Mowen with the task of naming the team.
By this stage, however, I couldn’t blame White for “exploring his options”. The unlimited resources and pure power of the RFU making contact with a professional rugby coach must be like the local shopkeeper getting an enquiring call from Woolworths. I have no contractual obligations to The Roar per se, but rest assured that if one of the major sports media organisations made contact, I’d explore the hell out of my options, too.
From the Brumbies’ perspective though, you couldn’t help but feel sympathy. They’d thrown whatever they could at Jake White to secure him for four years, rebuilt their rugby program per his specifications, and suddenly had something pop up not of their doing that forced them into damage control.
And somehow, it was their fault too. CEO Andrew Fagan once told me he’d come to accept that he was held responsible for anything from the temperature of the Canberra Stadium pies to the starriness or blueness of the sky above it.
Sure enough, Canberra Times readers were commenting that White’s departure would be just another point “in a long list of failures and decline under Fagan.” Bows surely aren’t drawn any longer.
Then late on Friday afternoon, White unexpectedly killed the rumour dead. After refusing to rule anything out initially, and indeed very publically applying for the role ultimately, White had suddenly pulled out of the race, and re-declared his four-year commitment to the Brumbies.
“It’s [coaching internationally] something I’d look at – it doesn’t mean now, it doesn’t mean leaving my job,” White told a stunned media.
“I’m here for four years with the Brumbies. I’ve signed on the bottom line and you’ve got to judge people by their actions.
“Nothing’s changed – I’m still committed to the Brumbies.”
And that was that.
Out of all this, the only real big positive was Mowen himself. In a week of unknowns, guesswork, and rampant speculation, Mowen spoke only in truths and absolutes. “As far as I’m aware, Jake’s here for four years,” and “we’re not really thinking anything outside of [beating the Cheetahs],” remained his message.
That outstanding management of the situation in front of him followed through to Saturday afternoon, too, when on the presentation of a 75th minute full-arm scrum penalty right in front, Mowen pointed immediately to the posts despite the Brumbies trailing 23-18 at that point.
Though big sections of the crowd weren’t amused – including my baying-for-a-try wife – it was absolutely the right call, with the Brumbies dominating territory and possession, and with referee Keith Brown needing only the slightest error to penalise the Cheetahs again.
The Brumbies quickly found themselves back deep in the Cheetahs half, earned the 80th minute scrum penalty, and Christian Lealiifano found himself mobbed as the ball sailed between the uprights to secure the 24-23 win.
Mowen was now a genius, and it wasn’t hard to see why he was White’s choice to lead a new era at the Brumbies.
And though I doubt highly that my column from last week was any motivation, I was really pleased to see Matt Toomua’s running game return. I’d suggest that was his best game for the Brumbies in close to two years.
The win was the perfect reward for an unbelievably turbulent week. A dominant second half of a game played in idyllic conditions under a beautiful blue sky saw the Brumbies run over the top of the Cheetahs and keep their unbeaten 2012 account intact.
Post-match, hurrying to put the focus back on the rugby, White declared the coaching saga “finished once and for all.”
And it probably is. Until it’s not again.
Mark Richmond
Roar Guru
enough said!!
Brett McKay
Expert
Not before I get to mention his name to someone at Brumby HQ to see a reaction! All I'll say is that he's an established player, and plays mainly at 10, though has spent time at 12...
Mark Richmond
Roar Guru
Sad day indeed....condolences to our friends across the ditch.
Mark Richmond
Roar Guru
any clues as to who it was?
Brett McKay
Expert
I'm surprised this hasn't come up in the wire stories today, so I'll mention this here.. Condolences to the entire New Zealand rugby community, and especially our Kiwi Roarers home and abroad, on the news of Jock Hobbs's passing yesterday afternoon. The image of him presenting Richie McCaw with his 100th Test Cap, and then later the two of them holding the Webb Ellis Trophy will be enduring images of the 2011 Rugby World Cup...
Brendan
Guest
KPM, Your argument that the boks won the '07 RWC without having to "beat one of the top fo five teams" is ridiculous! Take Australia, England beat Aus in the Q-final without doing anything special yet the boks thrashed england in the group stages and won by a canter in the final so logic says remove one of those "top 5". France were a joke except for beating their RWC boggie side NZ so its arguable SA would have beaten them as well. From memory Ireland were rated as a favourite going into the tournament but bombed horribly so remove another one of those "top five" you love to refer to. Who does that leave you with??? Also your coment that the boks beat the Argies with help from the ref is just as laughable. I was at the game and the boks beat them very easily with their high kicks, percentage style game and weren't the Argies many peoples dark horse to reach the final, if not win it should one of NZ, SA not make the final??? That's how I recall it and I was there and at a number of games including the Marseille Q-finals where Fiji did give them a run for their money. In fact I was happy they did so because all WC winning teams need a hard game and preferrably a fright from a weaker team to get them to re-focus. You're obviously an englishman who can't get over the repeated beatings the boks have dished out to your team over recent years. Get it over it mate 'cause there are a few more coming in June in SA. White was PE teacher at school and desrves every achievement, accoldae and reward he has achieved. He turned the boks around from the rubble they were thanks to Rudolph the Idiot.
sheek
Guest
P.Tah, You know, it's a funny thing, we were doing stuff 40 years ago in Port Moresby that are causing so many social problems today in Australia. I recall throwing a party for about 100 teenagers, but knew more would show up. That was usual back then in a relatively small place like PM. Eventually about twice the number turned up, but I knew most of them vaguely anyway. My father bought 'X' amount of alcohol & said that would be it, no more if extras turned up. But the extras usually brought their own, plus we also snuck off to get more beer. We were pretty well behaved. We just loved the music of the day, & the reefers weren't offensive. Shaun Mowen turned up in his "shaggin wagon" with this stunning girl in a muslin material dress. A very flower power couple! Ah yes, those were the days..........
sheek
Guest
Eric - ha, ha! There are some advantages to reading sporting history.....
sheek
Guest
P.Tah - thanks for that, not surprised at all. Shaun/Sean was the brother I knew best, for those few years. The brothers in order were - Max, Kerry, Bevan, Shaun, Rory. Like I said, they were awesome days..........
p.Tah
Guest
I believe Ben's dad is Sean Mowen.
Eric
Guest
Ah Brett, THAT is why you are on the big money! I thought that might be the answer but hadn't heard the Christie story. He deserved better. Sheek, I thought you were really old, but you only grew up in the mid 70's. That is not old enough to claim the "greybeard" status you seem to enjoy on The Roar! I thought you'd actually seen Don Bradman bat and Cyril Towers play, but....
sheek
Guest
Have I told you this story? Most (if told) would have forgotten it. I grew up with most of the Mowen brothers in Port Moresby (PNG) in the early to mid-70s. There were 5 brothers & I knew the last 3 - Bevan, Shaun & Rory - all good Queensland Churchie boys. I'm guessing Ben is the son of one of these, but I don't know which one. Max was the eldest from memory & legendary league player in Port Moresby. I can't remember the name of the second brother, but he was also a bit of a sporting legend. During school holidays we would play touch footy down at Ela beach, Qld & NSW boarders all interacting with each other. We even had a state of origin league match one hols (even though we all played union) long before the concept became popular in Oz. The Mowen boys were extremely competitive, especially with each other. At touch, there might be 2 one side & one the other, or if a full deck was on hand, 3 on one side & 2 on the other. The brothers liked baiting each other. On a few occasions it would turn ugly. The brothers would leave us for a nearby primary school, where one brother would pair off against another, each with a second, & usually the oldest brother as the ref, & have a boxing match. After 5-10 minutes, they would rejoin the touch footy. The first time we witnessed this, we were all shocked, but after a while we became used to the brothers "sorting out" their differences before rejoining the throng. Those were the days..........
Brett McKay
Expert
Eric, I've been waiting for this to come up, because I wondered the same while writing this. White's actual comment there was "When there’s [only] six World Cup-winning coaches ALIVE..." and therein lies the answer. George 'Kitch' Christie, who led the 'Boks to the 1995 RWC title in South Africa died in 1998, having battled leukemia for nearly 20 years. I think I've read in the past that he was actually sacked from a coaching job while hospitalised having treatment. Perhaps some South African Roarers can give us more details..
Eric
Guest
OK Brett, now that you are on the big money, explain to me why only 6 RWC winning coaches, not 7. Lochore, Dwyer, Christie, McQueen, Woodward, White & Henry???
Suzy Poison
Guest
Seriously what Rugby Union Coach would not be tempted by the England Job? The richest union in the world combined with the largest player base. Unlimited budget when it comes to technology, experimenting with new training methods, etc. Not only that, pre the France victory, this weekend, England had slipped to sixth on the rankings. As a coach that’s exactly what you look for. You will get them on the rise.....it's the dream coaching opportunity. Not sure what all the fuss is about, wouldn’t you want your coach to be in demand? That way you know you have the best? I don’t see anyone approaching Richard Graham, Damian Hill, Michael Foley or even, Ewen McKenzie, for the England job?
Brett McKay
Expert
Sixo, if I get a payment in the next month that reads to .00001, I'm coming after you!! Kind words though, so you have my thanks.. But there's no question about the South African influence, and White himself is overseeing the defence coaching by design. Interestingly, I can also see a bit of the Irish game coming out in the forwards, where Laurie Fisher seems to be getting way more out of the locks especially than has been the case in recent years. Sam Carter really impresses me for a guy with less than 5 games under his belt. Good in the lineout, solid aroudn the ground and in the tight stuff, and a decent runner too. On the CT guys, they had a story, backed up by sources they believed in, and felt it had to be told. I can't really blame them for that, it's their job. Had White just sprung his resignation in May, after the CT sat on the story, then we'd be screaming blue mruder, and the CT would cease to exist as a news agency. They had to run with it like they did..
sixo_clock
Roar Guru
You are worth every one of those thousandths of a cent Brett, always very readable. Must say that the local (CT) journos who decided to run the story deserve a well placed boot. They could have let it run its course backstage for the good of the club as ILDHGS suggested up above. I wonder if their single-mindedness was why Jake thought twice about getting away from these reptiles and then realised what the Brit media are capable of doing. As an aside we need an annual award ceremony for the stories in the media which have the most casual relationship with the truth. Suggestion "The Lords". My Father, still a Brumbies supporter, made a comment about the Cheetahs's game "they are playing South African Rugby which is a good thing". All I know is that they played like a unit and gave themselves a chance. Revives the ShackleDragger spirit which served them so well in the past, one for the bank. Go the Mighty Rebels.
Brett McKay
Expert
we got there eventually, Peter!
Brett McKay
Expert
thanks Guru, I'd seen a similar report in The Oz today, too. Bit of a bummer..
Mark Richmond
Roar Guru
CT are reporting that Matt is unavailable for this Friday's game against the Chiefs. :-(