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I am a dedicated Brumbies person. I cry and bleed and cheer and wave and commiserate and analyse just like every other tragic.
I don’t know Jake White personally, but my little boy had his photo taken with him, and I thanked him for his time.
When Jake was thinking about taking the England coaching position, I let my indigation out for a run and wrote a post lampooning his decision. Pee or get off the pot was the theme.
Shortly thereafter, Jake announced his intention to stick with the Brumbies – I don’t for one moment believe anything I wrote on the site had any effect, but it’s a nice thought.
Jake stuck with us and the rest is history.
When I first heard the news Jake was leaving the Brumbies last night, I was tempted to go after him again, but thankfully I read what Ben Mowen had to say and got it.
Jake, I don’t think anyone in Canberra will have a problem with your decision.
Here is the hard bit of this article, because I have to say something about his failures and achievements.
Of failures, I don’t think there are any, really.
Of achievements…
He totally re-organised the rabble that was the Brumbies – he was the voice.
His re-organisation was not confined, solely, to the playing group – it extended all the way to management and even the management took a quiet position on things when Jake was around.
He recognised talent.
He was brave and prepared to put the supporters through a period of pain.
He got people to play for the local clubs – some might not think that important, but in the overall context of what is happening in Australian rugby it is very important.
He pulled together a bunch of unknown but talented guys and turned them into a very co-ordinated and talented bunch of guys.
He put together a coaching team that will carry on the Brumbies tradition.
He broke the game down into its simplest elements and got his players to buy into his view of things.
He then added to that, in successive seasons, to enable his group to buy in even further.
He put together such belief in his group that they could beat the Lions – so they just did it.
Finally, he almost won us a final!
Obviously, he has a penchant for getting to the heart of the matter, analysing his blokes and giving them a game plan to stick to.
His assistants take a lot of the credit too, but the ability to carry out the plan is testament to how easy he made it for the players.
We need more blokes like Jake in Australian rugby.
Best of luck Jake, in whatever you do – you have set a generation of players on a good path.
I wish I had got to know you on a personal level, but then, so does most of Canberra.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.