Jones punts White for Wallaby job
Former World Cup-winning coach Eddie Jones has thrown his weight behind Jake White to replace Ewen McKenzie after the former Springbok coach emerged as a shock contender for the Wallabies job.
Jones has called on the ARU to make changes if the "rabble continues" in the Bledisloe Cup clash against New Zealand on Saturday, backing White as the man capable of turning the Wallabies' fortunes around.
"If they [the Wallabies] play well on the weekend then he [McKenzie] should go through to the World Cup.
"But if the rabble continues, they've really got to look at getting someone in for a short period of time until the World Cup, and one of the blokes who could definitely do it, would be Jake.
"It's not a long-term approach, but it could work, and then groom [Michael] Cheika to take over after that," Jones said.
There are only a handful of Tests remaining before the World Cup in England and Jones is adamant White could be successful if the ARU opt for a different path.
White is available to coach international rugby again after quitting his post at the Sharks last month.
McKenzie has been battling through off-field dramas for two weeks and there is growing discontent among players less than a year before the World Cup.
ARU chief executive Bill Pulver publicly backed McKenzie on Monday, denying they had sounded out potential replacement candidates and insisting McKenzie would coach the team to the World Cup.
But it is understood White's management has made contact with the ARU and there are claims ARU chairman Michael Hawker sounded out the International Rugby Board Hall of Fame coach. The claims have been denied.
Former ACT Brumbies mentor White has a strong history of being able to turn teams around in short periods, leading the Brumbies to the 2013 Super Rugby final before he quit with two years left on his contract.
White was interviewed for the Wallabies job in Melbourne last year when the ARU was preparing to axe Robbie Deans but the ARU overlooked him.
He has always detailed his desire to return to international coaching after leading the Springboks to World Cup glory in 2007.
"And who says I can't coach Australia after the World Cup? I've not turned my back on Australia," White said after quitting the Brumbies.
The ARU opted for McKenzie, with Pulver admitting part of the decision was because of McKenzie's plan to play "the Australian way", a reference to attacking rugby.
Since then McKenzie has won just 11 of 21 Tests – a success rate of 52 per cent.
"The speculation about my job probably is not front of mind for me; there are a lot of other issues going on at the moment.
"In the end, it's a results-driven business and I don't shy away from that, but at the same token, it's a values-based business as well, so you have to do the right things on and off the field," McKenzie.
There is speculation that Super Rugby championship-winning mentor Michael Cheika turned down an approach from the ARU and White has rocketed into the frame.
"If someone taps you on the shoulder and says, 'it's time', well that's what happens.
"It happens to all coaches at some point in time. If someone determines you're not doing the job how they want it, they'll tap you on the shoulder and tell you," he added.
White made an immediate impact at the Brumbies when he arrived at the end of 2011, lifting them from the lowest point in their history to the grand final in the space of two years.
White's case is also helped by the fact there are 10 Brumbies in the Wallabies squad with Stephen Moore and David Pocock to make their comebacks from injury next year.
White has joined Tonga in a consultant role after the IRB asked him to boost its World Cup preparations.
Source: The Canberra Times
