White ready to take old job back "next week"

I htink thats Jake White on the right

Former South Africa coach Jake White is keen to retake the reigns as he "can't bear" to watch his team continue down the path which Peter DeVilliers is leading them.

DeVilliers has overseen a horrendous Tri-Nations campaign, encompassing five defeats, including Saturday's 41-39 home loss to Australia. And his confrontational persona has done little to reassure the watching public that he knows how to remedy the situation.

White claims he has already spoke with the the South African Rugby Union (SARU) about the possibility of taking back the blazer on a short term basis, until the end of next years World Cup.

"I'm ready to do a hospital job and coach the Springboks to the World Cup in 2011 if the SARU wants me.

"I'm saying I'm available because what we've seen with the Springboks in the past 10 months is worrying.

"I've already made contact with SARU president Oregan Hoskins but he keeps telling me he has to run the idea past the executive council."

White led the Springboks to their 2007 World Cup win in France and he is a man lamenting, what he sees as, the dismantling of his hard work:

"We were the strongest defensive team in world rugby a short while ago, now suddenly we are conceding 22 tries in a Tri-Nations season," he said. "That is unacceptable, and there are such elementary mistakes that are being made. It's extremely frustrating to watch it happen and it saddens me to see it."

Even as the Boks disastrous season was in its embryonic stage DeVillier was courting controversy, accusing SANZAR of conspiring with match referees to favour New Zealand to boost interest in the 2011 showpiece. 

Even less tact was shown at the end of last month when he staunchly defended Blue Bulls prop Bees Roux after he was accused of murdering a Police Sergeant.

It is White, who speaks for the Bokke nation, saying: "I can't bear to watch the Springboks playing like this any more."

He has given his backing to Western Province coach Allister Coetzee to take the job on a long term basis. But feels it would be unfair for any new coach to take over in such circumstances. Instead, he has volunteered himself and Eddie Jones, who was also part of the '07 coaching team:

"Neither myself or Eddie are in contract with anyone at the moment, we can start next week if SARU want us to. The players we have in this country are good enough to win a World Cup, they just need guidance."