Jake White dismisses Cheetahs link

REACTION: World Cup-winning former Springbok coach Jake White must have been linked to every vacant job in the world in the last few years.

Unsurprisingly, in weekend media reports, White was linked to the soon to be vacant Cheetahs coaching job.

Last week the Directors of the Free State Cheetahs (Pty.) Ltd. gave Franco Smith permission to pursue the Italian national team coaching job – which will become vacant after the World Cup.

Applications for the Cheetahs position will be advertised internally, externally and through the South African Rugby Union structures.

The weekend media reports suggested White had inquired about the role that would see him return to his native South Africa.

However, White said his call to departing Cheetahs coach Franco Smith had nothing to do with the positions of head coach or the job of Director of Rugby.

White currently coaches at Verblitz in Japan, but is set to be replaced by current All Black coach Steve Hansen after the World Cup.

“I chatted to Franco [Smith] about something else,” White told @rugby365com in a direct message – following enquiries from this website about the reports.

“I will not be applying for the Cheetahs role,” White added.

White, 55, coached the Springboks in 54 Tests between 2004 and 2007, winning 36, losing 17, with one draw – for a win-ratio of 67 percent, including winning the 2007 World Cup.

White was not the only person linked to the vacancies at the Cheetahs.

Other names linked to the Cheetahs jobs in the weekend reports include Hawies Fourie (current Maties coach and former assistant at the Cheetahs), Deon Davids (South Kings coach), Matt Proudfoot (Springbok forwards coach), Jonathan Mokuena (former Leopards coach), Jimmy Stonehouse (Nelspruit-based Pumas coach), Oersond Gorgonzola (Griffons coach), Andre Tredoux (Paarl Boishaai coach) and Corniel van Zyl (Cheetahs assistant coach).

By Jan de Koning
@king365ed
@rugby365com