Jake White was simply out for himself

By Wally James, 27 Sep 2013 Wally James is a Roar Guru

In the wake of his decision to leave the Brumbies, I have thought long and hard about Jake White.

Without doubt he did a wonderful job in turning around ACT rugby. Within the space of two years he changed the Brumbies from a team of also-rans to within a whisker of a Super Rugby premiership.

I have heard nothing but enthusiasm for him as a coach and as a person. His television appearances portray him as a keen rugby man with an affable but firm approach to the sport.

No doubt those who know him quite like him. He seems like a likeable bloke.

At the end of the day he proved he was not a team man, but a mercenary.

In an honest and self-confessed way, he came to Australia to pursue his quest to return to Test match coaching. When it became clear he could not achieve that here, he left.

Quite clearly he was only interested in making the Brumbies better because it would make his own position better.

Equally clearly, when his own position could not be bettered, the Brumbies were of no interest to him.

That is not the rugby I grew up with. The team was more important than the individual. The country, province or club was more important than the coach and the players.

I have no doubt that remains in rugby but I wish it was more evident at the higher levels.

Jake was more passionate about himself than his team.

Dirk "Having sulk, throwing his toys out the pram, packing a sad. Whatever you want to call it. Do we want someone who throws a tantrum when he doesn’t get his own way coaching the Wallabies? Jake is a snake, no two ways about it. His apologists can blow smoke up his backside as much as they like and makes excuses for him but the guy has no honour. He signed a contract with the Brumbies in bad faith, never intending to see it out."

They were happy to have him around as Brumbies coach and see the improvement in the Brumbies performance - but when he left them for reasons of his own - they could not take it.   It is unheard of people to think of leaving Australia where Australians think they are Super Humans  and the centre of the Universe.   The hissy fit is by the two reporters - if indeed there was a hissy fit at all.

The fact is Jake wears his ambitions on his sleeve. He is a passionate man, not hard to figure out. As possibly the best coach in the game, he wants to coach at international level. He was very obvious about the Australian job. And had Deans not flopped so badly, Jake's turnaround at the Brumbies would have probably clinched it. He was the best candidate by a mile. Instead they picked a boorish, obese Aussie.

It's no surprise to that he decided to leave, coaching the Brumbies was never going to satisfy his ambitions after winning the RWC. I'm sure they knew it when they hired him....it was a marriage of convenience for both parties. This tearful piece is truly pathetically naive journalism.

 brother bueno perhaps flakey jakey should stick to the fishmarket and leave the coaching to the country that's schooling the world in how to play. NZ.

We're currently coaching 6 out of 10 of the worlds best rugby sides. I doubt whether your small country has enough money though to be able to afford us.

brother bueno i can only remember your Super XV sides failing hopelessly again. It's becoming a very bad habit that along with picking up the wooden spoon.LOLZA

 So how can a Bok team expect to flourish under such barren conditions?

You're obviously once again deluding yourself.

 Clever mike knows whats coming though. The only one with any rugby nous around here.

Ellis Park will be like NZ Hill all over again and we all know what happened there.

J-hake white, is a clever feesh. He not get caught/stung by wall-a-bee.

 brother bueno Chiefs players are warriors and fear no kissywissy bissies.

No one will be getting munched as the boks are toothless and will be crying for their mummies after the game.

Sorry to shatter your illusions but you aint got nothing except abad case of wind.