World Cup winner White would bring success to England

 

Montpellier head coach Jake White insists that he can win the Rugby World Cup with England if he is selected to replace the departed Stuart Lancaster.

With the bookmakers looking at numerous options to replace Lancaster, 52 year old South African White is the current favourite, and has national experience in the competition after lifting the trophy back in 2007 with his home nation, South Africa.

“I have a burning desire to win another World Cup,” he said. “I can win the World Cup for England. I would never be saying that I was keen on the job if I did not believe I could do it.”

White added that he had been in contention for England roles on three previous occasions; “When Rob Andrew got his role, I was on the shortlist, when Martin Johnson got picked, I was on the shortlist, when Lancaster got picked, I was on the shortlist.”

As a World Cup winner, White would bring a wealth of experience to the position if he was to lead England. Having won the tournament after three years with the Springboks, White moved into League Rugby, where he managed the Brumbies and the Sharks in Super Rugby before a move to Montpellier in 2014.

Other names mentioned include Australian Eddie Jones and former New Zealand assistant coach Wayne Smith, but Smith has distanced himself from the position after winning this year’s tournament with the All Blacks, whilst Jones, who had a successful tournament with Japan, has taken up a position as head coach of Super Rugby side the Stormers.

Like in many sports however, the lure of a home grown manager remains a pivotal part. Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter has also been speculated to take the helm, but has addressed his commitments to the Devon club.

Baxter said that he would like to see an Englishman take over, citing Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder and Leicester counterpart Richard Cockerill as possible candidates.

“There are coaches there who have done their time and I would like to think they would at least get asked, or be thought of as genuine contenders, before we start thinking that we’ve got to bring in an overseas coach,” said Baxter.

Whoever England decide to replace Lancaster, it is almost certain that they will never have as disappointing tournament as they had this summer. In addition to the poor performances and team selections, the new manager will surely want to look into the home grown rule currently in place by the RFU, not allowing English players currently playing abroad to play for the national side; a pivotal part in both England and Lancaster’s downfall in the summer.