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CAPE TOWN - Jake White blamed a poor relationship with South Africa's rugby administrators after announcing today he will stand down as coach of the world champions when his contract finishes at the end of the year.
White, 43, told a news conference that his final games in charge will be the one-off test against Wales on November 24 and a match against the Barbarians at Twickenham on December 1. White's four-year tenure ends when his contract expires on December 31.
The South African Rugby Union said on Tuesday a shortlist of four had been drawn up to succeed White and he had been excluded because he had not reapplied for his job.
Today the board named the candidates as South Africa backs coach Allister Coetzee, under-21 coach Peter de Villiers and 1995 World Cup winner Chester Williams along with Heyneke Meyer, coach of the Super 14 champion Bulls from Pretoria.
"SARU will shortly communicate to them the next steps of the selection process," a SARU statement said.
The new coach will begin work on January 1 at the conclusion of White's contract.
White blamed the breakdown in his relationship with administrators for the fact he had not been consulted as to whether he wished to renew his contract.
"I heard from board members that there were certain people who said that the relationship wasn't healthy and someone has to go and the board members and the (union) presidents aren't going to go," said White.
"I'm really disappointed with the way they have treated me and the way they have handled the process.
"My performance has not been reviewed and it says in my contract that I did not have to reapply for the position - but they have used the fact that I didn't apply as a cop-out for not putting me on the shortlist."
White, who guided the Springboks to their second World Cup triumph with a 15-6 win over England in Paris this month, has fought a long-running battle with the union over team selection.
In November last year he was recalled in the middle of a European tour to face a vote of no confidence and has often described the Springbok job as the toughest in rugby.
White has been linked with the coaching roles of England, Australia and Wales but said had not applied for any other jobs.
- REUTERS
