In discussion with Stafford Masie, CEO of Google South Africa, regarding my new YouTube Channel.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Jake on YouTube
In discussion with Stafford Masie, CEO of Google South Africa, regarding my new YouTube Channel.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Biggest game in Springbok history?
Saturday's Tri-Nations Test in Wellington is unique in South African rugby history. It is the first time that the Springboks have had to defend their ranking as the World number 1. A massive game for us and with everything to play for.
The All Blacks will be without a wealth of experience with Byron Kelleher, Richie McCaw, Jerry Collins, Chris Jack, Joe Rokocoko, Aaren Mauger, Luke McAlister, and Carl Hayman all unavailable to Graham Henry. A couple are out through injury while the rest are overseas due to playing commitments.
There is no doubt that this is one of the most inexperienced All Black teams that South Africa has ever faced. In addition we must not lose sight of the fact that the Test is being played on the South Island and coach Graham Henry is from the North Island, which means the fans will have zero tolerance for any mistakes let alone failure.
The pressure increases because this All Black team desperately wants to get their disappointing World Cup behind them and re-establish their authority in the world game. It is also the first time that I can remember an All Black coach having to succeed to retain his position.
In essence the All Blacks are under enormous pressure through lack of experience, playing on the South Island and having a coach under intense scrutiny.
If the Springboks are able to keep that pressure on them for 80 minutes then there is every chance we can record our first win in New Zealand since 1998.
I would also like to thank all of you for reading and leaving comments on my blog. I will make a plan to start answering as many as I can soon.
Keep playing and watching your rugby.
Go Bokke!
Jake White talking to Mike Trapido of the Mail & Guardian
The All Blacks will be without a wealth of experience with Byron Kelleher, Richie McCaw, Jerry Collins, Chris Jack, Joe Rokocoko, Aaren Mauger, Luke McAlister, and Carl Hayman all unavailable to Graham Henry. A couple are out through injury while the rest are overseas due to playing commitments.
There is no doubt that this is one of the most inexperienced All Black teams that South Africa has ever faced. In addition we must not lose sight of the fact that the Test is being played on the South Island and coach Graham Henry is from the North Island, which means the fans will have zero tolerance for any mistakes let alone failure.
The pressure increases because this All Black team desperately wants to get their disappointing World Cup behind them and re-establish their authority in the world game. It is also the first time that I can remember an All Black coach having to succeed to retain his position.
In essence the All Blacks are under enormous pressure through lack of experience, playing on the South Island and having a coach under intense scrutiny.
If the Springboks are able to keep that pressure on them for 80 minutes then there is every chance we can record our first win in New Zealand since 1998.
I would also like to thank all of you for reading and leaving comments on my blog. I will make a plan to start answering as many as I can soon.
Keep playing and watching your rugby.
Go Bokke!
Jake White talking to Mike Trapido of the Mail & Guardian
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Welsh Tour and a bit of travel
I've just returned from my IRB coaching trip to Fiji and Samoa. Besides the beautiful countries I visited I was most gratified by the eagerness to learn I encountered from all concerned. Rugby is very much a part of their culture and the desire to improve their knowledge and approach to the game made the trip well worthwhile.
The Welsh tour of South Africa was most interesting from a coaching perspective and enjoyable for the spectators.
In the first test the coaching staff were always going to be experimenting with new combinations. The fact that they scored four tries and achieved a comprehensive victory would satisfy any coach on his first outing.
In the second test with the Bloemfontein test just seven days behind them Wales were going to come out firing. They are after all a proud rugby nation and the current 6 Nations Champions.
As a result they put South Africa to the test and we weren't found wanting.
I'm sure the coaching staff are satisfied with a series win and the first hurdle behind them.
See you soon.
Jake White talking to Mike Trapido
The Welsh tour of South Africa was most interesting from a coaching perspective and enjoyable for the spectators.
In the first test the coaching staff were always going to be experimenting with new combinations. The fact that they scored four tries and achieved a comprehensive victory would satisfy any coach on his first outing.
In the second test with the Bloemfontein test just seven days behind them Wales were going to come out firing. They are after all a proud rugby nation and the current 6 Nations Champions.
As a result they put South Africa to the test and we weren't found wanting.
I'm sure the coaching staff are satisfied with a series win and the first hurdle behind them.
See you soon.
Jake White talking to Mike Trapido
Monday, May 26, 2008
NOT SO SUPER 14
South Africa's last horse in the race for Super 14 honours, the Natal Sharks, fell at the second last hurdle on Saturday and it wasn't pretty.
The 28-13 win by the the Waratahs was primarily down to a rock solid defence which has served the Australians well right throughout the tournament. The Sharks battled to get over the advantage line, being driven back time and again.
This is by no means a criticism of the Waratahs – I have always maintained that to win big games and tournaments you have to first get your defence in order. They have and this makes for a great final against the Crusaders.
The Crusaders, the most successful side in the tournament's history, made 5 changes to their line-up for the match against the Hurricanes.
It showed as they dominated the Hurricanes 33-22 with Daniel Carter in ominous kicking form. As we all saw once the team had secured top spot it was hard to push themselves but that all changed on Saturday.
With Carter now getting some game time under his belt, home advantage and the experience of playing in their 10th final, the Crusaders are going to take some beating.
With the Waratah's defence this is not a foregone conclusion and should provide rugby with a great final.
IRB's CONSULTANT COACHES
I am delighted to be given the opportunity to join the team of consultant coaches and work on special projects within the Tier 2 and 3 countries around the world.
This forms part of the IRB's Strategic Investment Programme which will see £48 million invested in intensive programmes between 2009 and 2012.
I will be visiting Fiji and Samoa early in June for a series of clinics which will coincide with the IRB Pacific Nations Cup clash between the two on June 7 in Fiji. It is also envisaged that I will be assisting several European countries later in the year.
I am thrilled to be given the chance to get back into rugby particularly working with the countries who most need the help. It is an area I am very familiar with and hopefully I can contribute in some way to the growth and development of rugby in those countries.
Jake White speaking to Mike Trapido (Mail & Guardian)
The 28-13 win by the the Waratahs was primarily down to a rock solid defence which has served the Australians well right throughout the tournament. The Sharks battled to get over the advantage line, being driven back time and again.
This is by no means a criticism of the Waratahs – I have always maintained that to win big games and tournaments you have to first get your defence in order. They have and this makes for a great final against the Crusaders.
The Crusaders, the most successful side in the tournament's history, made 5 changes to their line-up for the match against the Hurricanes.
It showed as they dominated the Hurricanes 33-22 with Daniel Carter in ominous kicking form. As we all saw once the team had secured top spot it was hard to push themselves but that all changed on Saturday.
With Carter now getting some game time under his belt, home advantage and the experience of playing in their 10th final, the Crusaders are going to take some beating.
With the Waratah's defence this is not a foregone conclusion and should provide rugby with a great final.
IRB's CONSULTANT COACHES
I am delighted to be given the opportunity to join the team of consultant coaches and work on special projects within the Tier 2 and 3 countries around the world.
This forms part of the IRB's Strategic Investment Programme which will see £48 million invested in intensive programmes between 2009 and 2012.
I will be visiting Fiji and Samoa early in June for a series of clinics which will coincide with the IRB Pacific Nations Cup clash between the two on June 7 in Fiji. It is also envisaged that I will be assisting several European countries later in the year.
I am thrilled to be given the chance to get back into rugby particularly working with the countries who most need the help. It is an area I am very familiar with and hopefully I can contribute in some way to the growth and development of rugby in those countries.
Jake White speaking to Mike Trapido (Mail & Guardian)
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Welcome to Jake White's World
When I have long departed this world and moved on to a better place, I hope that some young boy in Japan, many years from now, upon hearing mention of the name will say - “Jake White? I remember him – he was a rugby man”.
That is how I would like to be remembered. Not as the coach of this or that team, the winner of some or other trophy or even a man who somehow revolutionised the game, simply that Jake White was a “rugby man”.
Someone with a great love for the game, it's participants, traditions, legends and who lived and breathed the sport of rugby. That is what it's all about and that's where I am coming from.
When I was growing up rugby was about playing a game, visiting a stadium to watch your team play, listening to their game on the radio or reading an article in the newspapers. In other words a million miles from where we are now.
Rugby fans today can watch games from anywhere around the world live on television . This includes internationals, Super 14 or 6 Nations, provincial games, 7s and a host of other tournaments; the list is endless. In between there is newspaper, radio, television and internet coverage on every aspect of the game.
The internet, all on its own, provides a multitude of options for fans from blogging and forums to team news and results. There really is no limit to the scope of your enjoyment or involvement – it's really is up to the individual supporter.
On my blog I would like to cover various aspects of the game – ranging from technical to trivial depending upon the mood of the game at the time I put my thoughts down on “paper”. I hope that you derive some benefit as well as enjoyment from your visits here. While the magic of the World Cup seems a lifetime ago the game has rapidly moved on.
Over the next few weeks I'll be letting you have my thoughts on some of the interesting things that I come across in the real beautiful game. To start with I'll be keeping an eye on the Super 14s last round of games coming up this weekend and let you have my thoughts on those shortly. Also there is the announcement of the next Springbok squad which should be of interest to locals.
I'll also try and throw in a couple of memories from the World Cup along with a look at one or two technical points. Here's hoping that through this blog we can build relationships, learn a little bit from each other and have some fun along the way.
(Jake White speaking to Mail & Guardian's Mike Trapido)
That is how I would like to be remembered. Not as the coach of this or that team, the winner of some or other trophy or even a man who somehow revolutionised the game, simply that Jake White was a “rugby man”.
Someone with a great love for the game, it's participants, traditions, legends and who lived and breathed the sport of rugby. That is what it's all about and that's where I am coming from.
When I was growing up rugby was about playing a game, visiting a stadium to watch your team play, listening to their game on the radio or reading an article in the newspapers. In other words a million miles from where we are now.
Rugby fans today can watch games from anywhere around the world live on television . This includes internationals, Super 14 or 6 Nations, provincial games, 7s and a host of other tournaments; the list is endless. In between there is newspaper, radio, television and internet coverage on every aspect of the game.
The internet, all on its own, provides a multitude of options for fans from blogging and forums to team news and results. There really is no limit to the scope of your enjoyment or involvement – it's really is up to the individual supporter.
On my blog I would like to cover various aspects of the game – ranging from technical to trivial depending upon the mood of the game at the time I put my thoughts down on “paper”. I hope that you derive some benefit as well as enjoyment from your visits here. While the magic of the World Cup seems a lifetime ago the game has rapidly moved on.
Over the next few weeks I'll be letting you have my thoughts on some of the interesting things that I come across in the real beautiful game. To start with I'll be keeping an eye on the Super 14s last round of games coming up this weekend and let you have my thoughts on those shortly. Also there is the announcement of the next Springbok squad which should be of interest to locals.
I'll also try and throw in a couple of memories from the World Cup along with a look at one or two technical points. Here's hoping that through this blog we can build relationships, learn a little bit from each other and have some fun along the way.
(Jake White speaking to Mail & Guardian's Mike Trapido)
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Springbok coach
White's involvement at every level of South African rugby gave him a unique insight into the game that not many other coaches enjoy, and it almost seemed natural when he was given the role of national coach in 2004.
When he was appointed as head coach of the national team, South African rugby was in turmoil, coming off an early exit from the 2003 World Cup, racked by internal conflicts within their national federation, and rocked by the Kamp Staaldraad scandal.
Furthermore, defections such as Clyde Rathbone, the captain of the U-21 world champions, to Australia, further weakened the position.
Coaching resume up to 2004
White attended Jeppe High School for Boys where he played in the First XV. He began coaching as a high school rugby coach at Parktown Boys' High First XV before returning to his old school as a teacher and as coach of the school's First XV.
White's success with the school team resulted in him being appointed as provincial schools coach. Later he coached various under-19 and under-21 sides before assisting Springbok squad preparations by doing video analysis for them.
By this time he was well known for his technical prowess in rugby circles, and he lived up to his reputation by coaching the under-21 Springbok side to a victory in the U-21 Rugby Union World Cup in 2002.
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