View photosKEY POINTS:
JOHANNESBURG - Springboks coach Jake White needs a period of reflection after South Africa's World Cup triumph before he decides on his future.
White, whose four-year term as coach ends on December 31, guided the Springboks to their second World Cup triumph with a 15-6 victory over England in Paris on Sunday, but SA Rugby have advertised his job, with applications closing on Friday.
"The one thing I learnt from Eddie Jones (former Australian coach and the South Africa's technical advisor in France) and Clive Woodward (England's 2003 World Cup-winning coach) is not to make a decision based on emotions," White told reporters after the Springboks arrived back in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
"I need to take some time off and think about what should happen next. Obviously I want to be coaching rugby, but at the moment everything's on such a high that you could make a decision that's not the best for everyone.
"I need to meet with my bosses and the players and make a decision that's in the best interests of all concerned."
White, who looked on the brink of being fired more than once during his four-year term and also had to deal with interference in selection, paid tribute to John Smit, who he appointed captain two months before his first test in charge of the Springboks.
"The problems have been well-documented and it's been a tough four years. I want to compliment everyone involved and say thank you to all the players and staff," White added.
"But I've been speaking about John Smit since I got the job and he's now seen around the world as one of the best captains. It's only fair that the photographs you see in the future will show him holding the World Cup.
"Being the captain of South Africa is unique and John has the ability to get the best out of everyone, whether that be a coloured boy, a black boy, a white Afrikaans boy or a white English boy.
"You can be the best coach in the world, but if you have a bad captain, you'll be a bad coach," White said.
White did say he and assistant coaches Gert Smal and Allister Coetzee had begun planning for the November test against Wales in Cardiff.
"Just imagine how Wales are going to come out of their changing room to play the world champions having been knocked out of the World Cup before the quarter-finals?
"If you want to be world champions, then every time you play for the next four years, you need to look like world champions," White said.
- REUTERS
