Springbok boss White looking to take a break

CARDIFF – Jake White, South Africa’s World Cup-winning coach, played down Monday suggestions he would be replacing Brian Ashton next month as the man in charge of England, although he didn’t rule himself out of the job at some point in the future.

The Rugby Football Union (RFU), England’s national governing body, is expected to announce in December at the earliest whether or not it wants Ashton to continue in his post. England, the 2003 champions, eventually reached October’s World Cup final in Paris, where they lost 15-6 to South Africa just weeks after being thrashed 36-0 by the Springboks – their record World Cup defeat.Senior players Lawrence Dallaglio and Mike Catt both said in their recently published autobiographies that England’s revival came about primarily in spite of Ashton rather than because of anything the former Bath and Ireland coach had done.White, who is stepping down when his contract runs out in December, following the decision of South African officials to advertise his job while the World Cup was in progress, has been linked repeatedly with a move to the England set-up.He is now set to take charge of South Africa for the final time in a Test match when the Springboks face Wales at the Millennium Stadium, and said the widespread speculation regarding his future had been overwhelming.”I’ve been quite amazed by how many jobs I’ve been offered in the newspapers that I haven’t really got to know about,” White told reporters here Monday.”But as I’ve always said it’s unbelievable to think there have been six World Cups and England have been to three finals.Nampa-AFPEngland, the 2003 champions, eventually reached October’s World Cup final in Paris, where they lost 15-6 to South Africa just weeks after being thrashed 36-0 by the Springboks – their record World Cup defeat.Senior players Lawrence Dallaglio and Mike Catt both said in their recently published autobiographies that England’s revival came about primarily in spite of Ashton rather than because of anything the former Bath and Ireland coach had done.White, who is stepping down when his contract runs out in December, following the decision of South African officials to advertise his job while the World Cup was in progress, has been linked repeatedly with a move to the England set-up.He is now set to take charge of South Africa for the final time in a Test match when the Springboks face Wales at the Millennium Stadium, and said the widespread speculation regarding his future had been overwhelming.”I’ve been quite amazed by how many jobs I’ve been offered in the newspapers that I haven’t really got to know about,” White told reporters here Monday.”But as I’ve always said it’s unbelievable to think there have been six World Cups and England have been to three finals.Nampa-AFP