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**truebluefan** · 11-19-2007, 05:17 PM

White, who led the Springboks to victory in France last month, has been linked with a number of jobs after revealing he would not be renewing his contract with SA Rugby which expires on December 31.

Although Brian Ashton defied the odds to guide England to the final in France, his position has been subject to speculation with 43-year-old White heavily linked with the role.

Speaking in Cardiff where South Africa are preparing for the Prince William Cup clash against Wales at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, White said: ``I've been quite amazed by how many jobs I've been offered in the newspapers that I haven't really got to know about.

``But as I've always said it's unbelievable to think there have been six World Cups and England have been to three finals.

``In some ways England probably play a similar style to South Africa and I've had links with England before when the Rob Andrew job (elite performance director) was available and that's why people have asked would I consider it.

``When you're involved in rugby you always want to make sure you can add value to teams that you think are going to suit the way you coach.

``That's why I've said England - with whatever jobs - would always be a country I'd be interested in.

``But at this point I think there's nothing worse than being an incumbent coach in the country and listening all the time about some other guy trying to your vie for your job and I think it's a little unfair on a guy like Brian Ashton who's taken the team to the World Cup final.

``At this point, straight from the horse's mouth, I'd like some time off and my first priority is to finish off my tenure as national South Africa coach and then from next year see what opportunities come and hopefully make a decision on which I can add value to the team I think I can coach.''

White intends taking the advice of his World Cup assistant Eddie Jones, the former Australia coach who had a miserable time this year as Queensland Reds coach after being sacked by the Wallabies.

``The one thing he (Jones) did emphasise is to make sure I don't rush into another opportunity, not the first one that comes about.

``By his own admission Eddie went straight from the Wallabies to the Reds and we know how unsuccessful he was there. When you say would I consider a job in the Guinness Premiership if an opportunity became available? Of course.

``When you are involved in rugby you'd always consider it, but I would want to make sure it's a win-win for everybody. I'd want to go to a club or country or a team where I think I can add value and get a return off the way they play.

``I don't want to take the first coaching job that comes about.''

On that basis White last month turned down an opportunity to pitch for the Wales job that Warren Gatland has since taken, although caretaker Nigel Davies is in charge for Saturday's clash.

White said: ``I did meet with a couple of WRU officials and said I'd be interested in staying in international coaching and they'd had coaches like Steve Hansen and Graham Henry coach Wales.

``They'd had overseas coaches and seen the benefits and non-benefits of having a coach from overseas.

``Wales were keen to get their coach into place quicker than most countries. That was always going to be the tough call for me because it was a very difficult time for me to make a decision.

``It's all about timing in coaching and about making sure you're available at the right time and as it went Wales were keen on getting things in place sooner rather than later, which probably didn't suit where I was at that time.''

On the prospect of facing Wales without a host of World Cup winners, with scrum-half Fourie du Preez (shoulder) the latest to withdraw, White said: ``To me it's probably more important than most because it's my last Test match with South Africa so it will probably be quite emotional and as I've always said to the players, a lot of new guys will get an opportunity this weekend and I think we owe it to them to make it as special for them as it was for every player that's had his first cap.

``In some ways it's a bit of a blessing that it is my last Test match. I can use that as a bit of an emotional build-up. If I was staying on it would probably be a lot harder.''

**truebluefan** · 11-19-2007, 05:18 PM

The 25-year-old has suffered a recurrence of a shoulder problem which kept him on the sidelines for large parts of the 2007 season.

The Test in Cardiff will be the last match of Jake White's tenure and the World Cup-winning coach already has Danie Rossouw, Wikus van Heerden, BJ Botha and Jean de Villiers on the injured list.

Also missing are Percy Montgomery, Butch James, Gary Botha and Ashwin Willemse who have club commitments while Victor Matfield has pulled out for personal reasons, and Bob Skinstad and Os du Randt have retired from Test rugby.

The Springboks are not expected to name a replacement with scrum-halves Ruan Pienaar and Ricky Januarie already in the squad for the inaugural Prince William Cup on November 24.

Following the Test at the Millennium Stadium, South Africa will play the Barbarians on December 1 at Twickenham.

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