Stuart Lancaster’s departure as England’s head coach had barely made the news wires when Jake White, who guided South Africa to the World Cup in 2007, declared his interest in the job. The man – who is the bookmakers’ favourite to take over – would make them major contenders in the 2019 tournament, according to one of his former players.
Butch James, South Africa’s fly-half in the 2007 final against England who spent five seasons at Bath, believes White, who is currently coaching at Montpellier, would make the most of the best resourced country in world rugby in terms of players and money. “England have got everything a country needs to win the World Cup apart from a coach who has succeeded at the highest level,” said James. “There are a number of candidates around and Jake is one of them. After what happened this year, England must take their time and come to the right decision. Jake would add value without doubt and I know that it is a job that has appealed to him for some time.”
White’s career has largely been one of frustration since he was not reappointed by South Africa after the 2007 World Cup success. He spent a few years doing coaching placements for World Rugby in tier two nations, overlooked by England in 2008 and 2011, before spending a season with the Brumbies, which included a victory over the 2013 Lions, before returning to South Africa with the Sharks after failing to succeed Robbie Deans as Australia’s head coach. He lasted a year there before taking over at Montpellier.
“It is clear that Jake would like to be involved with international rugby again and there are not many coaches around who have got their hands on the World Cup,” James added. “Nothing in the game compares to a World Cup because you have to go up a few notches in the tournament and he played a big part in our success in 2007. Yes, we were a bit lucky with New Zealand and Australia getting knocked out in the quarter-finals, but one of his strengths as a head coach is that he does not think he has all the answers.
“He delegates to specialist coaches and brought in Eddie Jones for the 2007 World Cup. He trusts his players and, during my time working with him, he always involved us in decisions, allowing us input. What should interest England, given the problems they have had in this area for a while, it that he is an excellent selector. He would not dump a player after one bad game but would keep faith until it became clear a change was needed. Players respond to that and he got the best out of us.”
White said that he would be interested in succeeding Lancaster if the Rugby Football Union approached him as its preferred candidate rather putting him on a shortlist. “If they are genuine in looking for a foreign coach and considered me to be the right man for the job, it would be naive of me to say I would not be interested,” he said. “It is one of the most sought-after jobs in rugby. England is a sleeping giant with all the resources and most coaches in the world would put up their hands for the position.”
South Africa were not renowned for their attacking style in 2007, basing their strategy on defence because, as White and Jones said on many occasions during the tournament, the team that conceded the fewest tries tended to win the World Cup, something James said showed White’s pragmatism.
“England have some outstanding backs and Jake would certainly not look to hold them back,” said the 36-year-old, an outside-half with a taste for adventure. “We played a 15-man game under him and, if he got the job, I am sure he would bring an attacking brand of rugby. I know from my time at Bath that England have a number of skilful players and the game there is about far more than forwards and kicking.
“I liked the look of their squad in the World Cup and had them down as one of my favourites to win, never expecting them to go out early. They were in a tough pool with Wales and Australia, but one or two poor selections did not help them and the pressure of being hosts got to them, something that is not easy to deal with. Going forward, it is a matter for England of putting things in the right place because it is all there for them. As a South African, I do not want them to be better in 2019, but they will be because they have a group of talented young players.
“They just need someone to get the best out of them and Jake, a coach who is at his best in the international arena, should certainly be a candidate.”
