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PARIS - South Africa coach Jake White says the ongoing speculation about his future is not an issue for him as he tries to guide the Springboks to their second rugby World Cup title.
White, who has been linked with the now vacant Australian and Wales coaching positions, insisted he only had one goal in mind as the Springboks, who won the World Cup on home soil in 1995, look to reach the summit of global rugby union once again.
"What I really would like is to finish this World Cup, win this World Cup, and then have time to think about what I should do, because right now it's becoming very emotional," he said.
October 19 - the eve of the final - is the closing date set by SA Rugby, the national governing body, for anyone interested in succeeding White to get their application in to become South Africa's coach.
That's despite the fact White's contract runs until December 31.
SA Rugby's move appears to reflect the widespread belief that, come what may at the World Cup, where the Springboks play Argentina in Sunday's semifinal here at the Stade de France, White will move on to a new job after the event.
But White said here today: "I am still under contract until the 31st of December. So far as I know, I've got to go for a review when I get back. Then we will have a meeting and talk about the long-term plan.
"So the reality for me is that I am not going to do anything (about his future) until I get back and have my review.
"Nothing says I have to apply by a date, the bottom line is I have a review and they (SA Rugby) will tell me at the end of my review what they think."
White, 43, has endured several ups and downs since becoming South Africa coach three years ago when he led the team to the 2004 Tri-Nations title.
Often criticised by senior rugby figures in the country's white, Afrikaner heartland, White has also been attacked by Government ministers for failing to include a sufficiently high number of black players in the team.
- AFP
