Jake White: Qualified, but right for the job?

The news is in that Jake White, who recently signed a four-year contract with Super Rugby franchise ACT Brumbies, intends submitting his CV to the South African Rugby Union (Saru) for the position of Springbok Rugby head coach. His potential employers are the same ones that two days after the SA victory parade in 2007 indicated they would not be renewing his contract.

I am concerned on some levels here, firstly Jake has just signed a good coaching deal. Why jeopardise this? The embarrassment he may experience in being turned down as a former Rugby World Cup (RWC) winning coach, and a recent one at that. But lastly my question to SA is have we not moved past him now? Yes he was good and I have had personal exposure to this man’s rugby brilliance but I really do believe that 2003 to 2011 is eight years of a fairly good run for SA rugby.

We have a brand new batch of players who have known only one version of rugby, the professional version. The youngsters are very excited and highly professional. With Jake having been on the periphery for a while is he the guy we need right now? Not sure he is. I have backed Heyneke Meyer of late but I suppose my argument applies to him as well. I am not really challenging either of the coaches’ credentials. I would understand if Nick Mallet put in a CV, this was a RWC semi-final coach and a Tri Nations winning coach in 1998. He has been involved in Test rugby at Six Nations level losing a whole lot more than he won but he remains a very intelligent rugby man.

I really hope Saru do this properly and transparently. We really care for this game and ask that you please treat it with care and respect.