French Top 14 club Toulon and English Premiership outfit Saracens are set for a tug-o’-war over the services of South Africa’s World Cup-winning coach Jake White.
White will be offered the chance to return to Saracens next year, after his week-long
consultancy ended in a 23-6 victory over Worcester on Sunday, according to a report on www.rugby365.com.
Saracens director of rugby Eddie Jones, who is a close friend of White having worked alongside the South African at the World Cup, revealed he has already set in motion a deal for White to return early in 2009.
However, Toulon’s eccentric club president Mourad Boudjellal is also busy with negotiations to sign White on a long-term contract.
White, who will be assisted by Jones when he coaches the Barbarians against Australia at Wembley on Wednesday, will head to Toulon for a three-week stint later this week.
The South African-based Sunday Times reports that the deal is simply an entrée, with Boudjellal to meet White’s agent, Craig Livingstone, apparently to thrash out a long-term deal.
But Jones hopes his friendship with White will swing the decision in favour of the English club.
White worked with the English Premiership team’s defence, which had leaked three tries in each of its last two games, and Saracens reaped the rewards by conceding only two penalties to secure their first win in three matches on Sunday.
Pacific Islander Kameli Ratuvou scored a try and Glen Jackson and Brad Barritt also crossed the line to prevent Mike Ruddock’s Worcester making it three consecutive wins.
Jones, who was White’s confidant and advisor at during the Boks’ victorious World Cup campaign in France last year, confirmed that he was aware of the Toulon offer.
“Jake is a top coach and a guy I’ve known a while and I’m confident of getting him back here in January or February,” said Jones.
“He came in and wanted us to change one or two things with our defence.
“He’s a good guy to have as a consultant.
“I know Toulon have been calling him so I’ll be interested to see if he goes there.
“He has already sent me five text messages asking ‘who coached the defence this week?’ so I know he’ll be interested in doing it again.
“It was a very good performance from us and I’m really pleased with our whole team, I thought everybody contributed out there and it was important to get a win.”
But Toulon is dangling a typical French cash carrot in front of White.
“It’s true we’re meeting, but more than that I cannot say,” Livingstone, who travels to France next week, told the Sunday Times.
The ambitious Boudjellal, who made his fortune publishing comic books, has assembled an impressive cast of players, but they haven’t been able to win championships.
Tana Umaga is the current coach, but the new deal with White looks like the beginning of the end for the former All Black centre.
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If White is serious about doing some proper coaching then their isn’t even a choice here.
White will be offered the chance to return to Saracens next year, after his week-long consultancy ended in a 23-6 victory over Worcester on Sunday
This is so open to debate though. Can he have made such a difference in one week?
The ambitious Boudjellal, who made his fortune publishing comic books, has assembled an impressive cast of players, but they haven’t been able to win championships.
They’ve only JUST been promoted from D2 though so that is a bit harsh.
Umaga has his work cut out though. to be promoted from D2 and then have your team owner expect a top 3 finish in the Top 14 is a bit of a big ask.
Brad Barritt scored a try??? 😯
Is Rob aware of this??? 🙄
@wpw (Comment 4) : oh yes! It’s because I picked them to lose on SuperBru
Forgot to make my picks … still got a few points via default picks…but still… 😡
@blckshrk – BUCS (Comment 6) :
Sheez I turn my back for one weekend and a lot of you fall by the wayside with your picks. 🙄 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 7) : I am starting to hate that game!
I’m so bored.. 🙄
@KSA Shark © (Comment 7) : Don’t know what happened to me last week. I posted a reminder for everyone to make their Champions league picks- and I still forgot to make mine. 🙄
@robdylan (Comment 8) : Me too, longdrop… 😈
@wpw (Comment 9) : You miss The Mighty Proteas…
@blckshrk – BUCS (Comment 11) :
I can’t believe I’m going to miss tonight’s game. it starts at 10pm.
@wpw (Comment 12) : Yeah…late start…but we’ll beat West Ham anyway…at 12 we’ll be sole leaders at the TOP of The Premiership…
Does Cheeky Watsons election as EPRU president bring good tidings for WP supporters?
@blckshrk – BUCS (Comment 13) : woohooo! Viva
@blckshrk – BUCS (Comment 10) :
No worries, neither of you are the longdrops this week. 😛
@KSA Shark © (Comment 16) : so who is it?
@robdylan (Comment 17) : The Photographer…formerly known as KSA is probably cooking up an article as we speak…
@blckshrk – BUCS (Comment 18) : oooh – I do so hope so
@blckshrk – BUCS (Comment 18) :
Hehehehhehee
As much as I like Mr White, I wish he would get a coaching job asap. So we can put all this speculation to rest. 😈