What we all expected has now been made official, Jake White will not be coaching the Springboks again after his contract expires at the end of the year. White’s last game in charge will be South Africa’s end of year tour to Wales where they will play the Wales National Team and then the following week play the Barbarians. After the success of the Springboks winning the World Cup, it was time to start moving forward but instead, only 11 days later, backward steps are already being taken.

Jake White has bought success to South Africa rugby, he has won the World Cup, what more can you ask of a person? It took him 4 years to build a winning team and after all that, the forces that be in South Africa Rugby seem not to want this successful man to continue bringing success to the national team. Instead they are set to look for a new coach and with all due respect to the potential candidates, whoever is selected for the job will not be at the same level as Jake White. I am sure if all was well in SARU (South Africa Rugby Union) Jake White would have stayed on as coach of the Springboks and lead the team to the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.

From the look of things, it looks very difficulty for one to work with the bosses at SARU. How Jake has managed to stay for 4 years remains a mystery to me. Jake, you are a strong man. I will not forget at the end of last year when the rugby bosses called Jake home from a tour in Britain for him to explain to them why the team is not performing. Here is a man trying his best to win, he is thousands of miles away preparing with the team and days before a game you call the man back for a meeting. I found that very laughable at the time. I mean surely, if all you wanted was an explanation you could have called him and asked him. If you wanted to see him, there is now Video Calling available where they could have seen him and spoken to him, not put the man on a plane so he can show himself to you. At that time I thought Jake was going to call is quits but he hung in there. It may have been a tactic by SARU to try and force him out of his position but I am sure Jake was like, “There are only a few months to go until the World Cup, let me get there and win it and show these guys.” And show them he has done. As the whole of South Africa celebrated the Springboks win, I am sure there are some people in the SARU offices who were not happy, mainly due to the fact that Jake White has done it.

SARU go on and advertise the Springbok coaching position’s availability during the teams World cup in France. Now as a coach, how would you feel if your bosses are advertising your position whilst you still have a contract with them? It is clear that they do not want you back after your contract expires. This is something that could easily have bothered Jake White but yet again, he stuck in there and delivered the goods where it mattered most, on the field. SARU may come out and say that Jake showed no intentions during his reign to remain as Springbok coach after his contract had expired and thus the reason for them to go out and start seeking a new coach.

For me, I feel that loosing Jake White has been a big loss for South Africa rugby. In all sport today, continuity plays a big part and continuing with the same successful coach is one of the best things for a sports team. It will now be up to the 4 applicants for the head coaching job who include: Chester Williams, Heyneke Meyer and Pieter de Villiers, to not only match what Jake White has achieved but to better it for the betterment of South Africa rugby. Whoever takes over the reign, I wish them the best of luck.

As for Jake: Thank you very much for what you have done for our Springboks and we wish you all the best for your future. A future which looks like it could be in Australia as Jake may take over the head coaching job with the Australia Rugby Union. As much as South Africa hates Australia on the sporting field, no one can deny Jake the opportunity to coach another top rugby playing nation. That just goes to show the desire, hunger and passion Jake has for the game, something South Africa is surely going to miss from him.

We took two steps forward in winning the World Cup but have taken one step backwards by loosing Jake. The net effect, we are still forward so not all hope is lost.

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