Did SA Rugby call White's bluff?

Rugby365 editor Jan de Koning takes a critical look at the "drama" that unfolded around Springbok coach Jake White contract negotiations and the sudden change of heart by SA Rugby (Pty) Ltd, the commercial arm of the South African Rugby Union (SARU). He asks the question: "Did SA Rugby call White's bluff?"

Our columnist Duncan Bech reflects on what he makes of England's coaching shake-up and gives us his views on the possible return of a certain knight of the realm…

So, Jake White will continue to coach the Springboks in the Tri-Nations. Last Saturday's 36-26 loss to France at Newlands was not his last match.

Despite what seemed to have been a carefully orchestrated media campaign to highlight the Bok mentor's negotiations with the national body, there has been a lot of back-tracking since last Friday.

First there was SA Rugby who cancelled a scheduled media conference on Friday, because they didn't realise they did not have the power to make decisions on the national coach's contract. So they called off the media conference to allow the President's Council to take that decision.

But that brings me to another issue. The public statements being made by SA Rugby officials and whether you can actually believe them.

On Thursday, after news about Friday's media conference became public knowledge, Andy Marinos (SA Rugby's manager of national teams) said the conference was "not" about White's contract. Less than 24 hours later he sat next to White at a Springbok media conference and declared that the other media conference (by SA Rugby) was called off because of the new developments surrounding White's contract.

Is this a case of speaking with a forked tongue?

And that brings me back to the real reason for calling off Friday's press conference.

There is no doubt that details of White's contract negotiations were deliberately leaked to the media.

But why on the eve of an important test, against France?

It may have been done to put pressure on SA Rugby and highlight the fact that there exists problems, maybe in the hope that SA Rugby would cave in and White would get the extension (to keep on coaching until after the 2009 British and Irish Lions tour) he wanted.

The timing of it all was rather suspicious.

As it is, White has come in for severe criticism over the timing in negotiating the extension of his contract. Some people feel he should have waited until after the Test match against France.

After all, he has this whole week to negotiate, with no test coming up this week and the Springbok players all on leave – being given time off ahead of the Tri-Nations.

That, surely, would have ensured the negotiations were done in far less strenuous circumstances.

As it is, there are now rumblings in SA Rugby and SARU circles, a few wise heads who have made it clear they will not allow White to hold a gun to their heads.

They say they will now follow proper protocol and ensure that these negotiations are completed in due course.

That means White won't know till sometime in July if he will get what he demanded – that a core group of senior players and certain specific management members are contracted – along with him – through to 2009.

So why are they (SA Rugby) holding off? Could they not bring forward a president's Council meeting if it was such an urgent issue?

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that this is not the first time White had threatened to "walk out" on SA Rugby.

Each time before SA Rugby caved in. This time they didn't.

Maybe, just maybe, this time they are calling his bluff.

Maybe, as some officials are beginning to mumble, it is time for the Springboks and White to produce on the field first.

Maybe they wanted to see firstrth all the fuss and just maybe, he will have to go back to the negotiating table with something other than "I have offers from abroad."

As it is, there are suggestions that there should be an evaluation of White's performance before the President's Council decide about his contract.

And those offers from abroad White are talking about. Well, it appears – unlike what his friends in the media suggested – they do not include the position as director of rugby at the Rugby Football Union (England).

White's name is certainly not on that shortlist. The name of Nick Mallett is.

As I said before, maybe, just maybe, they decided to call his bluff.

Do you agree or disagree with Jan? E-Mail us!