KEY POINTS:
While Graham Henry and the All Black coaching panel move from strength to strength, two of rugby's "Big Five" coaches seem poised to be shown the door.
The answer to one of rugby's most vexing questions should be answered this week: Who will win the 'sack race" between England's Andy Robinson and hot favourite Jake White, South Africa's coach?
The two sides were facing off overnight in the second test, with the first won by England last week after South Africa took what appeared to be a winning lead, sat on it but were beaten by a poor England.
That defeat and White's summons home to face his masters before returning to head the Springbok effort against a World XV has seen White assume favouritism for the bullet.
If England were to lose the final test of a miserable autumn, it could well signal the end of Robinson. But until he has submitted a written report to his director of rugby, Rob Andrew, and a panel has reviewed England's performances, there will be no change in Robinson's circumstances until early next month, after the review.
White's summons suggests he is likely to be the first to the exit. In an unprecedented move, White has been ordered to appear before the President's Council of the South African Rugby Union on Wednesday - four days before the Springboks' final tour match, against a World XV in Leicester. The SARU president, Oregan Hoskins, admitted the meeting did relate to the vote of no confidence in White put forward by the Blue Bulls last week.
White has been under increasing pressure after a record 49-0 loss to Australia was followed (after home Tri-Nations wins over the Wallabies and New Zealand) by a another record 32-15 loss to Ireland.
White was handicapped from the outset by a decision to leave behind a clutch of first-choice players to give them a break in the build-up to the World Cup and to see what strength in depth South Africa had.
But last week's 23-21 defeat against England merely fanned the flames of discontent with White's performances.
But all is far from rosy in the camp of the Red Rose. England captain Martin Corry came to the defence of Andy Robinson with a thinly-veiled warning to director of elite rugby Rob Andrew. Former England first five-eighth Andrew, only recently appointed to his new overseeing role with the RFU, suggested earlier this month the team had unresolved "leadership issues" heading into next year's World Cup.
That was widely interpreted as a criticism of Leicester No 8 Corry's captaincy and came at a time when England were in the middle of their worst run for 34 years. Andrew, when director of rugby at Premiership side Newcastle, was a fierce critic of the England coaching regime and his appointment was viewed as a blow to former England flanker Robinson's authority.
Robinson, who has seen England win just nine of 21 tests since he succeeded World Cup winning boss Sir Clive Woodward in 2004, insisted he had no problems with the RFU hierarchy. "I'm pleased to say I have honest, open and frank discussions with the RFU regularly. That's how it should be done. You know me, I've never hidden away from anything.
England began their November programme with a 41-20 defeat by New Zealand, their biggest losing margin at Twickenham, and Argentina's 25-18 victory the following week was the Pumas' first test success on English soil. Then came a badly-needed win when England beat an inexperienced Springbok side.
Nevertheless, Corry said: "We weren't happy with that performance. The great thing for us is being really critical on the back of a win. The South Africans were very physical. I thought their defence was superb and we had to tighten our game up as there weren't that many holes."
Meanwhile, veteran prop forward Cobus Visagie has politely declined White's invitation to play for South Africa against the World XV.
White stunned observers last week with his dramatic about-turn on Visagie, whom he had previously dismissed as not worthy. But Visagie's dramatic recall came on the same day the prop was named in the World XV.
White even went as far as saying that his selection for the Boks was an opportunity for Visagie to stake his claim for a place in the squad for the World Cup next year. However, White forgot to check the player's availability.
Visagie, who destroyed the Bok scrum when he played for a World XV at Ellis Park in June this year, has constantly earned high praise from the English media. He joined Saracens from the Stormers and Western Province after a career in South Africa that saw him capped 29 times by for country. After failing to make the Springbok World Cup squad for 2003, he opted for a move overseas and for the past two seasons has been named in the Premiership's "dream team" at the end of the season.
- INDEPENDENT, NZPA
