Saru dismisses Jake's return
2008-08-27 16:04
Johannesburg - The South African Rugby
Union (Saru) poured cold water on suggestions that Jake White,
who coached the Springboks to the 2007 World Cup title, could
return as director of rugby.
White told Wednesday's edition of Die Burger, a Cape
Town-based Afrikaans newspaper, that he wanted "to be director
of rugby in South Africa".
However, Saru president Oregan Hoskins told Reuters on
Wednesday that the post did not exist and there had been no
discussions with White.
"We have had no discussions with Jake White on the subject
and, in fact, the principle of a director of rugby post will
only be reviewed by the president's council on Friday," Hoskins
said.
White's successor as Springbok coach, Peter de Villiers, is
under fire as his team have lost four of their five Tri-Nations
matches, including unprecedented successive home losses to New
Zealand and Australia.
White told Die Burger that he was not interested in becoming
the head coach again but that he would like to help in the
background.
"I want to become director of rugby," White said. "I don't
want to be in the limelight and I'm also not looking for the
pressures that go with it. I've had my turn. All that I would
like to do is help. That's what I have always wanted to do."
De Villiers can take heart from Hoskins's statement on
Monday that "De Villiers, his management team and playing squad
have my unequivocal backing and that of the South African Rugby
Union president's council and of the board of SA Rugby."
After South Africa's 27-15 loss to Australia in Durban last
weekend, De Villiers, captain Victor Matfield and the players
were booed by the crowd.
De Villiers took over from White, who was not reappointed
after he did not reapply for his position following the World
Cup triumph, in January and has a four-year contract as head
coach.