Jake eying England coaching job

Brumbies chief executive Andrew Fagan says Rugby World Cup-winning coach Jake White is interested in the England coaching job.

White, who coached South Africa to the 2007 World Cup title, told Fagan he had been approached about the England position and wants to explore his options.

He is in the first year of a four-year contract with the Brumbies and would be expected to stay for the remainder of the Super Rugby season.

Fagan said: "Obviously this is a terrific opportunity for Jake White, and one which reflects his status as one of the world's leading coaches."

The Vodacom Super Rugby tournament is entering the third round this week. White has not yet been interviewed for the England job vacated by Martin Johnson. Stuart Lancaster is England's interim coach.

Good luck to Jake!

And yet again, I say no thank you very much.

I doubt he will become England coach. It would be unquestionnably good for England, but I think it will be less of an opportunity for Jake than most realise.

I see JW as a national coach, I don't see him cutout for S15.

Becs can you tell me your reason(s) why?

I don't really see why I need to go through this again, Denny. My opinion hasn't changed since the last time we discussed this and it never will. In fact, his behaviour, yet again, really does just consolidate my opinion.

As soon as Johnson left, he was almost first in line to say he wanted the job...even though he had just signed his contract in Australia. His bosses then came out and reiterated the point, to the British media, that he was contracted to them for a time period now whether he was interested in the England job or not. Now, he's back in the press telling us all that he would be the best candidate for the position. The timing is, yet again, perfect....this weekend is the most important weekend for Stuart Lancaster thus far. He knows the knives are out for him, in certain areas, and much is being made of a loss to France putting an immediate end to his tenure as interim Coach. So this is an unnecessary intervention by Mr White, yet again. As it was during the RWC in France when he did not stop talking himself up to our press at the expense of any respect towards Brian Ashton.

I'm afraid no-one here thinks he would be a good replacement and you would all be surprised at how many people want to stick with Stuart Lancaster. He is a decent man who has done a very good job thus far and I don't see any need to change him. He understands England, the English game and the fans have a great deal of respect for him. If the RFU dispense with his services, they will regret it.

Unfortunately, Mr White seems to think he is the answer to our prayers, sadly he is not. I don't rate him as a Coach and I don't take to him as a person either. From what I was told, he wasn't even on any short list as a candidate for the position anyway. Maybe he just needs to stick in Australia and do the job he is being paid to do. And butt out of English Rugby for good. Just a thought.

I think Jake would be good for England as he has the ability to build a side and England are not too disimilar from the Boks.

Surely a man has the right to aply for  a plum job. The Brumbie sould have to release him from his contract and that suggests there is a clause in the contract which says if he gets an internationa loffe rthe ywill relaese him?

Becs if you guys get Jake you get  a good proven coach at worst. Can't see that Jake is arrogant to apply for the job. He does have the credentials so he is entittled to apply one would think.

I have to say I think Jake is sullying his reputation here. As I recall he was considered for the Pom job once before, and didn't get it. Now he is in the first year of a four year contract. As Becs suggests, he does have some obligations. And while he wouldn't be the first to bolt  for greener pastures, this is the kind of thing you entertain if you are basically offered the job.

My guess is he is just going to sour his relationships at the Brumbies.

Unfortunately Becs Jake is a significantly better coach than Lancaster. Added to that, you are over embellishing anything that Jake has said. Not once has he stated or intimated anything that you imply. At best he has shown an interest in coaching England. His timing? That's debatable. The fact of the matter is that England are interested in Jake and probably realise that they made a big mistake not hiring him in the first place many years ago! So in short, your bitterness towards Jake is very puzzling. Jake is a man of with respect for traditions and old values. He is thoroughly professional, highly intelligent, has a very good technical understanding of the game, has very good man management skills, is strict and disciplined and has the strength of character to stand up to adversity. What more could you possibly want? he understands England's game very well, and would be a very nice fit for them. Afterall, in case you hadn't noticed, England are actually looking very drab this year. Two flukey wins via poor charge downs are all what separates them from their current position and the wooden spoon challengers!

 Am with you Becs on all fronts -- and its complete nonsense that Jake is better than Lancaster - there was nothing special in Jake at all, he started well, failed miserably and then was saved at the WC by a great bunch of players and an assistant in Jones

 Gone are the days when the Brumbies were the trendsetters of Australian rugby. Now they have turned into the Bumbling Brumbies comedy act, losing players, fans and struggling for coaching stability. Last year, the Brumbies got rid of their coach Andy Friend after a few rounds, and this year their coach Jake White may soon get rid of them. The Brumbies sent out an intriguing media release yesterday explaining that White had told them he had been 'sounded out' for the England coaching job. Brumbies chief executive Andrew Fagan admitted he was 'naturally disappointed with the disruption' caused by the speculation. White, who startled Brumbies elders by not making Stephen Moore his captain, was not at yesterday's team announcement, and will also be absent from today's captain's run. The media were yesterday told to limit their questions to one - and to skipper Ben Mowen only. This directive apparently came from 'the coaching staff'. In spite of White's disappearing act, the word remains another South African - Nick Mallett - will coach England. And White remaining Brumbies coach until the end of 2015? Yeah right.

 I echo Chris Dutton's long piece (almost an essay LOL)

"Jake White should move on if he's not committed to the ACT Brumbies and his interest in England's top job could destabilise the club, former player Jeremy Paul says.

On the eve of the Brumbies' round-three match against the Free State Cheetahs and just one game into a four-year contract, White yesterday signalled his ambition to become England's next coach. But it's understood the Brumbies players and coaching staff have been left in limbo with White yet to address his team about his uncertain future.

White did not return calls from The Canberra Times yesterday and it's unlikely he will discuss his position until after tomorrow's match.

Paul, a former Brumbies and Wallabies hooker, passionately jumped to the defence of the squad and said the 'debacle could be potentially destructive for the Brumbies'.

'It's ridiculous, it's beyond destabilising … to hear in the third round your coach is interested in going somewhere else, what were the Brumbies - a stop-gap?' Paul said.

'It throws everything out … you can't go and field an offer after six months on the job.

'It's not even about him leaving, it's about him wanting to take an offer. If he jumps on a plane to go over there, he should stay over there.

'He's got three-and-a-half years left on his contract and all of a sudden we're in the position where we could have another caretaker coach … if you want to completely wreck a place, this could do it.'

The Brumbies' preparation for just their second Super Rugby match under White was thrown into chaos yesterday when the club was forced to react to ongoing speculation about White because of a story broken by The Canberra Times. Instead of focusing on securing a second consecutive victory, all the attention is on White. He was absent from his scheduled press conference yesterday to announce his team to play the Cheetahs, leaving captain Ben Mowen to front the media.

'Jake can make the decisions for himself but, as far as I know, he's here for four years,' Mowen said. 'That's where we're at - Jake's here and we'll see what eventuates.'

Prop Ben Alexander said White had addressed the players when he was previously linked to the South African coaching role expected the coach would speak to them today.

In his six months in Canberra, White has overhauled the playing roster and facilities at the club's Griffith headquarters to try to turn around the worst season in the Brumbies' history.

Former captain Stephen Hoiles - who left the Brumbies last November due to a chronic Achilles problem - said White's possible departure was a devastating blow for the club. Hoiles was skipper when Andy Friend was axed in March last year.

Hoiles said White had demonstrated double standards by forcing Brumbies players to play club rugby in Canberra but wavering in his own commitment to the capital. 'You can't tell players they have to stay in Canberra and play club rugby in Canberra and then have this happen, it's a double standard,' Hoiles said.

'I feel sorry for the fans and for the players … they don't need to go through something like this again.

'The Brumbies have the most inexperienced squad in a long time and I'd be surprised if this wasn't a distraction for them.'

Paul feared White's possible departure would harm the Brumbies' ability to recruit and retain players.

'When players choose between the five [Australian] teams they want to go somewhere they can be coached,' Paul said.

'Jake lures players and he was here for four years to attract players, now who knows if that will happen.'

For the sake of the Brumbies I hope England just come out with Mallett as coach and be done with it! If I were Jake I would never even accept an offer to coach them. He is in a great place to re-establish his coaching career and should be content with that!

Thanks Becs, I can't remember us having the conversation and perhaps it's either denemtia on my side or you're possibly confusing me with someone else. Each to his opinion on JW as a coach and much as I respect yours I like many on the other side of the divide think the world of him. I must agree with Moz that he is sullying matters by always being the first one to stick his head out and acting like an opportunist if the media is to be believed. His actions if true must be very unsettling for the Brumbies and it begs the question as to his motives for taking the position in the first place.

I hope you guys eventually find a very good coach....mind you it is dragging on a bit isn't it?