VIDEO: The Jake White quotes that had social media hacks salivating

Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White has taken a lot of heat in the last 48 hours, since his team’s 16-21 loss to a fired-up Glasgow Warriors in the United Rugby Championship Final at Loftus Versfeld.

He has also taken full responsibility for his team’s loss.

However, none of that compares to the media ambush he faces in the wake of a few off-the-wall post-match comments he made.

In an 18-minute briefing, a displeased White did his utmost to address the media honestly – mostly beating himself up and saying he would take some serious introspection.

White also declined to blame the players, despite a few questionable onfield decisions and poor execution.

However, some rabid social media hacks chose to reflect on less than two minutes of White’s curious comments – suggesting it is a sign of his true character.

Words such as “pathetic” and “no respect” were bandied about.

And to be frank, White could have chosen his words better.

However, we have seen much worse at a higher level.

French captain Antoine Dupont and coach Fabien Galthié spilt a lot more bile in the wake of France’s one-point (28-29) loss to South Africa at Stade de France, in Paris, in a World Cup quarterfinal in October.

Their attack on New Zealand referee Ben O’Keeffe was far more blatant than White’s caustic comments.

(WATCH as a bitterly disappointed Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White produces a few post-match pearlers…)

White cynically suggested the away team often wins when Italian referee Andrea Piardi is in charge of major play-off matches.

“They [Glasgow Warriors] played Munster [away] and beat the team that was top of the standings,” he said of the Scottish outfit’s 17-10 win at Thomond Park.

He pointed out that three times the away team won with the same match official – Munster beating the Stormers 19-14 in the URC Final in Cape Town, Glasgow then won at Thomond Park and the Bulls beat Leinster 27-26 at the RDS Arena in the 2022 semifinal.

“This referee let the away team win,” White said, adding: “Next year when we play away, I want him to try and referee us.”

He was asked about the presence of Bulls and Springbok legends like Thys Lourens, Frik du Preez and Bakkies Botha in the build-up and played it down.

“They didn’t officiate the maul,” the Bulls’ boss said.

“The last maul, there were more guys on our side of the maul than there were on their side of the maul.

“That is what we have to accept,” he said, adding that he was on the winning side of a contentious decision during the 2007 World Cup Final.

He pointed out that there is still a debate over whether Bok loose forward Danie Rossouw had tackled England wing Mark Cueto into touch at a crucial stage – a call that favoured White’s team.

“As an older person, you learn, you have to take the good with the bad.”

While the attention seekers were happy to latch onto some of White’s more ill-conceived comments, they failed to provide context or balance.

@king365ed
@rugby365com