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White slams Boks

White slams Boks

09/06/2010 06:14:11 PM

Former Springboks coach Jake White is disgraced at South Africa's 2010 efforts and has again called for the under-fire Peter de Villiers to be sacked a year out from the Rugby World Cup.

De Villiers is under extreme pressure to keep his job after guiding the Springboks to their worst-ever Tri Nations finish, capped off by their 41-39 loss to Australia in Bloemfontein on Sunday.

And White, who led the Springboks to the 2007 World Cup title, said it was time for a change at the top before it was too late.

"I can't bear to watch the Springboks playing like this anymore," White told South Africa's The Times.

"I'm ready to do a hospital job and coach the Springboks to the World Cup in 2011 if the South African Rugby Union [SARU] wants me."

"I've already made contact with SARU president Oregan Hoskins but he keeps telling me he has to run the idea past the executive council."

"Well, I'm saying I'm available because what we've seen with the Springboks in the past 10 months is worrying."

Aside from the Springboks' loss to Australia - their fifth out of six Tri Nations matches - de Villiers has also gotten himself into trouble for several other reasons.

He was hauled before a SANZAR hearing for making comments about match officials and also controversially supported Stephanus 'Bees' Roux, the Bulls prop arrested and charged with the alleged killing of a Pretoria policeman.

The South African Rugby Union will meet later this month to discuss de Villiers' future, but White said he was ready to take over and would make fixing the Springboks' leaky defence a priority.

"I am prepared to do that job and take it on a temporary basis. I have experience of what is required, I know the players because two thirds of the guys who make up the core group were players I coached up until the last World Cup," White said.

"We were the strongest defensive team in world rugby a short while ago, now suddenly we are conceding 22 tries in a Tri Nations season."

"That is unacceptable, and there are such elementary mistakes that are being made."

"It's extremely frustrating to watch it happen and it saddens me to see it."

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images

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