Bring back Jake
7 Sep 2010
SIMON BORCHARDT says Jake White should be appointed Springbok caretaker coach until the end of the World Cup.
White has been criticised for trying to get his old job back instead of supporting Peter de Villiers, who is having a nightmare 2010 season similar to White’s in 2006. However, it’s worth remembering that White inherited a team ranked No 6 in the world in 2004 and was still building that team in 2006 when everything fell apart. De Villiers inherited a team ranked No 1 in 2008 and on Saturday fielded the most experienced Bok XV in history with 750 caps. You simply cannot compare 2006 to 2010, and White’s credibility would suffer if he came out in support of what De Villiers and his assistant coaches have been doing.
It has become abundantly clear that De Villiers does not have what it takes to be a success at this level. He lacks technical knowledge of the game and relies heavily on senior players for direction, is a poor man manager (evident by his fallout with Frans Steyn) and is unable to make difficult decisions (like dropping a horribly out-of-form Bryan Habana). He has also been a disaster off the field, making several comments that have brought the game into disrepute and made him, and the Boks, the laughing stock of world rugby.
Saru must get rid of De Villiers now, while there is still time for a new coach to steer the SS Springbok away from the looming iceberg. But I agree with White that it would be unfair to appoint someone like Allister Coetzee as Bok coach just 12 months out from the World Cup with no guarantee that he will stay on beyond the tournament (how many coaches survive a poor World Cup campaign?). A long-term appointment like Coetzee needs time to settle into the job, and while it may seem opportunistic for White to throw his hat into the ring now, he genuinely seems to believe that he can get the team back on track. And so do I.
White has coached most of the players in the current Bok side. He has an outstanding technical knowledge of the game. He is not afraid to make difficult decisions. He knows what not to say at press conferences. And he knows what it takes to win the World Cup.
White’s offer to become Bok caretaker coach before handing over to Coetzee (who he says should have gotten the job in 2008) after the World Cup should be seriously considered by Saru over the next couple of weeks. Regan Hoskins was reportedly upset with some of the things White had to say about him in his autobiography, but the Saru president should not allow that to cloud his judgement and prevent him – and his executive – from doing what is best for Springbok rugby.
It’s time for Saru to stop De Villiers’ circus act and get serious about the Boks’ World Cup defence. It’s time for White’s return.
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711 Comments
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8 Sep 2010, 12:15 pm
697. adi(adi) :
Bulldust – Alister has made a massive impact at the Stormers, they had Rassie before and sucked, now they have Coetzee and they are doing great. Ok their recruitments have been good in the last year or so which ahs helped the cause as well.
I don’t want to undermine Rassie but really nobody seems to want to give Alister his dues
8 Sep 2010, 13:40 pm
@Mike H(Mike H)-701:
I still have my doubts about Alister. The Boks backline was fairly impotent when he was in charge and he didn’t do much for the Lions either. The real improvements in the WP/Stormers, for my money, are due to Proudfoot and Fleck.
8 Sep 2010, 14:13 pm
#701
Then why are Rassie name mentioned as candidate for head coach of the boks
8 Sep 2010, 14:21 pm
@David(David)-702:
I think Fleckie is overrated as a backline coach.
Proudfoot on the other hand is brilliant!!
Allister, well, i think he is a great Man Manager and Head coach.
8 Sep 2010, 14:25 pm
@adi(adi)-703: Who mentioned his name?
8 Sep 2010, 14:52 pm
@Tegejo(Tegejo)-705:
Rassie did.
9 Sep 2010, 08:56 am
In the 4 years that Jake coahed the Boks, they have the following record:
Australia: 55% of matches won by Boks (I eat my words, but wont swallow them)
Ireland: 50% won by Boks
France: 25% won by Boks
All Blacks: 33% won by Boks
England: 71% won by Boks
Shocking stats if we take into account that Jake is supposed to be the “Mr Fixit” for next years WC.
9 Sep 2010, 14:43 pm
# 707
its all about his surname (Wit)
11 Sep 2010, 05:16 am
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-385:
Way too late but still want to say, I don’t agree with you here. Any coach coming in now will be in a win-win situation.
Win the WC and you’re the Messiah.
Drop out in the quarters and you can still say, “we could’ve won it if I got the job 18 months earlier.”
The scary thing is, a lot of the supporters would believe it!!!
11 Sep 2010, 05:32 am
Obviously not too late, then! But why sack the first guy since Jake White who had to hold a gun to the Govt for the last WC win?
Maybe Os is the new Messiah?
Or just critical stabilty…criticism and stability?
13 Sep 2010, 22:02 pm
… jakey jakey jakey (whitey)… u forgot u were also in the doldrums in 2005 AND 2006?… Arrogant *******…
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