Jake White: Renaissance man

Jake White. Picture / Fotopress

As Springbok coach, Jake White's job could be described as a death-defying high-wire act, juggling the myriad elements of South African rugby.

It entails balancing elements such as sport, youth, politics and integration of a nation. Oh, and occasionally, he gets a bit of time out on the paddock to try to share his rugby knowledge with his young charges.

Remarkably, the man still has some hair and, even more importantly, retains his sense of humour and cheery disposition.

If he's on pills to achieve it all, I'd sure like some.

"I never get involved in the politics that may be going on behind the scenes," White says matter-of-factly, as though a Springbok coach would not wring his hands in frustration and angst at some of the off-the-field shenanigans of South African rugby.

"It wouldn't do me any good to get involved because it isn't my domain, and I've always said I want to concentrate solely on the team. Why concern yourself if you don't have the means to solve the problems?

"I concentrate fully on trying to develop the team as one of the best in the world and create the right environment in which young South African rugby men can integrate, enjoy themselves, work hard, have some fun and enjoy the overall environment so that they can demonstrate their talents.

"Believe me, that's quite enough to be going on with."

And he's making a pretty reasonable fist of it, too, as the Springboks prepare for their toughest challenge so far of 2005, against the All Blacks at Cape Town tomorrow.

The South Africans have yet to lose an international at home under White and they don't intend to start this weekend.

What White has brought to the Springboks is a cohesive strategy, a vision and an environment in which all can flourish, regardless of colour and creed.

Those who represent the epitome of traditional South African standards mix freely and comfortably with black guys from disadvantaged backgrounds or white guys who might under other circumstances be termed rebels - young men not anxious to toe the conventional line.

White's skill has been to build a broad coalition of all; to make all in the squad feel relaxed and happy.

The emergence of so many talented young rugby players - the likes of Ricky Januarie, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Gurthro Steenkamp, Schalk Burger and Jaque Fourie - testifies to his success.

Mind you, he's had to wield the big stick, not really at his own players but at the rugby administrators within his own camp whose prying eyes and rapacious demands have loaded unfair burdens upon their national coach.

The issue of integration by coloured players and quotas recently boiled over into a threat by White to walk away from the job if he was not allowed to choose his own teams; to decide for himself the readiness of his own players for test rugby.

He makes it emphatically clear he is not against the integration of players from deprived backgrounds.

One of the reasons he wanted the job in the first place was because of what he called the enormous pool of talent just waiting to be brought through into the senior Springbok side from the under-21s and under-19s, both of whom won their respective World Cups this year.

"I couldn't wait to get involved coaching all that talent. It is a hugely exciting future facing this country and its rugby teams, as long as we manage that process carefully."

That is code for refusing to accept quotas within his teams - not being prepared to be brow-beaten into selecting a specific number of players just because they are black.

"You cannot put strict numbers on these things. It is impossible," he said as far back as last year.

"All I am concerned with are two aspects: choosing the best players to make the team successful, and helping young players to fulfil their potential, whatever their colour or background.

"A coach must know best when an individual player is ready for exposure to the highest level. If he doesn't, he isn't doing his job.

"We have to put the team and the players first."

As if to prove his point, although it was not done for cosmetic reasons because White isn't a man who indulges in cheap stunts, he chose nine black players in his squad for the recent Nelson Mandela Challenge match against Australia in Johannesburg.

The headlines were staggering. One paper ran the story as its front-page lead, with mugshots of all nine and the banner "Nine Black Boks".

In the last outposts of white colonialism, they probably thought the end had come.

So it was especially pleasing when the new-look Springbok side flogged the Wallabies 33-20. White dropped some of them for the next game, but he had made his point: the future of young black players will not be retarded under him.

Quietly, studiously and with immaculate courtesy to outsiders (a trait he has imparted to his charges), White has restored the good health and power of Springbok rugby.

The unhappy, earlier times have been forgotten as his new squad have confronted their demanding home critics and overseas opponents with a style and strength to be envied.

And their immensely promising renaissance has been achieved with a smile on their faces, their dignity and humour largely intact whatever the circumstances. These are the marks of significant young men.

Satisfying the manic expectations of the public is a common difficulty shared by South African and New Zealand international rugby coaches.

Really, truth to tell, any human being not made in heaven and personally crafted by the Almighty will struggle to live up to the demanding requirements of these jobs.

But White shows every sign of satisfying maybe as many as 50 per cent of the South African rugby public. And believe me, in golfing terms, that's about eight under for the round so far.

* Peter Bills is a rugby writer for Independent News and Media