South Africa confirm Jake White’s exit

SOUTH Africa have announced that Jake White will not stay as Springboks coach despite leading them to victory in the World Cup final against England.

SA Rugby have drawn up a shortlist of four possible replacements for the 43-year-old White. An SA Rugby panel met on Monday to discuss the search for a coach.”It was confirmed that Jake White did not apply for the position and he was therefore not considered,” SA Rugby said in a statement.White’s contract officially ends on New Year’s Eve and he is due to take South Africa to Europe for matches against Wales on November 24 and the Barbarians a week later.The four candidates to replace White as Springboks boss will not be announced until they have been informed they have made the shortlist.But those thought to be under consideration are black coaches Chester Williams, a 1995 World Cup winner, Springbok backs coach Allister Coetzee and Pieter de Villiers, the national Under-21 and Emerging Springboks coach.Blue Bulls boss Heyneke Meyer is another name in the frame.The situation surrounding the Springboks job is complicated by the fact that White reportedly has a clause in his contract allowing him to be reconsidered for the position without reapplying.SA Rugby have refused to say whether White’s name would be added to the shortlist at a future date.The governing body added that White has not yet decided where his coaching future lies, although he has said he wishes to continue at international level.He has expressed an interest in coaching England, who are currently led by Brian Ashton, should the position become available.Ashton’s rolling contract runs until the end of this year, and his future will not be decided until a thorough review of England’s World Cup campaign has been undertaken.On Sunday White told the BBC: “England is probably one job most international coaches wouldn’t mind taking because it’s a power that can become a huge force.”I would really like to stay in international rugby.Once it’s in your blood, it’s in your blood.”White has also held preliminary talks with Wales about their vacant head coach’s job after the departure of Gareth Jenkins, while Australia are looking for a new coach to replace John Connelly.White took charge of the Boks in 2004 and oversaw a stunning transformation in their fortunes, leading them to the Tri-Nations title that year.He nearly lost his job after defeat by England in 2006 but their revival culminated in the 15-6 win over England in the World Cup final nine days ago.Throughout his time in charge White has had to deal with the political pressures connected with the on-going transformation debate, which concerns how to develop a side with more non-white players in the team.In a country where the white population makes up just under 10 per cent of the population the XV which started the World Cup final contained two non-white players.HEADED FOR AUSTRALIA? Meanwhile, AFP reports that White has shown interest in the vacant Wallabies post via his agent.The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) high-performance manager Pat Howard yesterday confirmed that agent Craig Livingstone had contacted him on White’s behalf last week but had heard nothing further.”I’ve outlined the process to him and that’s all that had happened,” Howard said.He has also been linked to the England and Wales coaching positions and has until Friday to apply for the Australian post.The list of candidates includes Canterbury Crusaders Super rugby title winning coach Robbie Deans, former ACT Brumbies Super 12 winner and current Auckland Blues coach David Nucifora, Wallabies assistant coaches, John Muggleton and Scott Johnson, NSW Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie and Brumbies mentor Laurie Fisher.Last week ARU chief executive John O’Neill said if White applied, the ARU would “certainly consider his application.”Howard said White had a very impressive record which also included a Tri-Nations title.BBC, Nampa-AFPAn SA Rugby panel met on Monday to discuss the search for a coach.”It was confirmed that Jake White did not apply for the position and he was therefore not considered,” SA Rugby said in a statement.White’s contract officially ends on New Year’s Eve and he is due to take South Africa to Europe for matches against Wales on November 24 and the Barbarians a week later.The four candidates to replace White as Springboks boss will not be announced until they have been informed they have made the shortlist.But those thought to be under consideration are black coaches Chester Williams, a 1995 World Cup winner, Springbok backs coach Allister Coetzee and Pieter de Villiers, the national Under-21 and Emerging Springboks coach.Blue Bulls boss Heyneke Meyer is another name in the frame.The situation surrounding the Springboks job is complicated by the fact that White reportedly has a clause in his contract allowing him to be reconsidered for the position without reapplying.SA Rugby have refused to say whether White’s name would be added to the shortlist at a future date.The governing body added that White has not yet decided where his coaching future lies, although he has said he wishes to continue at international level.He has expressed an interest in coaching England, who are currently led by Brian Ashton, should the position become available.Ashton’s rolling contract runs until the end of this year, and his future will not be decided until a thorough review of England’s World Cup campaign has been undertaken.On Sunday White told the BBC: “England is probably one job most international coaches wouldn’t mind taking because it’s a power that can become a huge force.”I would really like to stay in international rugby.Once it’s in your blood, it’s in your blood.”White has also held preliminary talks with Wales about their vacant head coach’s job after the departure of Gareth Jenkins, while Australia are looking for a new coach to replace John Connelly.White took charge of the Boks in 2004 and oversaw a stunning transformation in their fortunes, leading them to the Tri-Nations title that year.He nearly lost his job after defeat by England in 2006 but their revival culminated in the 15-6 win over England in the World Cup final nine days ago.Throughout his time in charge White has had to deal with the political pressures connected with the on-going transformation debate, which concerns how to develop a side with more non-white players in the team.In a country where the white population makes up just under 10 per cent of the population the XV which started the World Cup final contained two non-white players. HEADED FOR AUSTRALIA? Meanwhile, AFP reports that White has shown interest in the vacant Wallabies post via his agent.The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) high-performance manager Pat Howard yesterday confirmed that agent Craig Livingstone had contacted him on White’s behalf last week but had heard nothing further.”I’ve outlined the process to him and that’s all that had happened,” Howard said.He has also been linked to the England and Wales coaching positions and has until Friday to apply for the Australian post.The list of candidates includes Canterbury Crusaders Super rugby title winning coach Robbie Deans, former ACT Brumbies Super 12 winner and current Auckland Blues coach David Nucifora, Wallabies assistant coaches, John Muggleton and Scott Johnson, NSW Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie and Brumbies mentor Laurie Fisher.Last week ARU chief executive John O’Neill said if White applied, the ARU would “certainly consider his application.”Howard said White had a very impressive record which also included a Tri-Nations title.BBC, Nampa-AFP