Four candidates have been shortlisted to take Springbok coach Jake White’s place, SA Rugby confirmed on Wednesday.
They are: Alistair Coetzee (currently one of White’s assistants), Pieter de Villiers (national under-21 coach), Heyneke Meyer (Bulls head coach) and Chester Williams (1995 World Cup winner).
”The shortlisted candidates have been duly informed and [we] will shortly communicate to them the next steps of the selection process,” SA Rugby spokesperson Rayaan Adriaanse said.
SA Rugby advertised the post on the eve of the World Cup final, where the Boks faced England in France.
White did not apply and, according to SA Rugby, did not even signal the intention to continue after his contract expired in December.
Earlier in the day the World Cup-winning White told a press briefing that the Boks’ match against the Barbarians in December would be his last in charge of the team.
”It is difficult to walk away. I am sad to actually not want to coach the Springboks anymore. I am really disappointed about the way they [SA Rugby] treated me,” White said.
”You know, it’s such a great privilege, but it is the toughest job in world rugby,” he said.
White’s contractual terms did not require him to reapply but to indicate if he wanted to continue with the job.
He got support from the highest office in South Africa when President Thabo Mbeki said: ”He personally saw no reason why White should not be retained as head coach”.
This was endorsed by the Springbok sponsors Sasol. — Sapa