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Yeye: Absent Jake no problem
29/11/2006 12:08 - (SA)
Adnaan Mohamed, Son
London - Springbok manager, Zola Yeye, says coach Jake White's absence from the Bok camp this week won't have any adverse affects on the team's preparations.
South Africa tackle a World XV in Leicester on Sunday in the final match of their end of the year tour to Ireland and England.
It would have been far more sensible to hold the meeting immediately after the tour, but in a rather bizarre situation the beleaguered coach has been summoned to appear before a presidents' council on Wednesday to explain his team's poor performances.
For some reason the presidents council feels it is imperative that White attend the meeting despite him still having to prepare the Boks for Sunday's encounter.
On Monday White was also absent as he was in Glasgow at the IRB Player of the Year awards function.
According to Yeye, Jake's assistant's Gert Smal and Allister Coetzee will take charge of the team.
"It's not a train smash, Allister and Gert will take care of the team while Jake is away. I will also obviously be available," said Yeye.
"He (White) will be leaving late on Tuesday and will be travelling during the evening and arrive on time to attend the council meeting on Wednesday. He will probably be gone for 48 hours before he joins up with the team again on Thursday," explained Yeye.
But despite a cloud hanging over the head of the Bok coach, Yeye insists that the mood in the camp is as positive as can be.
"Saturday's victory against England at Twickenham has given the guys a boost and put them into a positive frame of mind and has relieved the pressure on them considerably. The heat on the Boks is now off and they can now relax a bit this week," added Yeye.
Springbok captain, John Smit, is already back in Durban and according to Yeye a decision on the captaincy will be made when White returns from Glasgow. Lock Johan Muller has also returned home because of injury.
According to the Bok media manager, Vusi Kama, the team management met to make a decision on a captain for Sunday's clash. At this stage it appears that Wikus van Heerden has the inside track. At Tuesday's practice session at the Wasps training ground the other payers referred to Wikus as "cappie" on the field.
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