England role not right for Jake White

As Stuart Lancaster names side to face France, South African Jake White says he is not interested in England coach role.

Head Coach Jake White
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Head Coach Jake White is committed to his role at ACT Brumbies [GALLO/GETTY]

World Cup-winning coach Jake White has turned down the chance to apply for the vacant England job, saying on Friday he was committed to Super Rugby franchise ACT Brumbies.

Brumbies had released a statement on Thursday revealing that White, who coached South Africa to victory in the 2007 World Cup, had been approached by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) as it seeks to find a permanent replacement for Martin Johnson.

Asked at a news conference in Canberra on Friday whether he was interested in the post, the 48-year-old South African replied: “No, no, no, no.

“I’m here for four years with the Brumbies. I’ve signed on the bottom line and you’ve got to judge people by their actions”

Jake White

“I’m here for four years with the Brumbies. I’ve signed on the bottom line and you’ve got to judge people by their actions.

“Nothing’s changed – I’m still committed to the Brumbies.”

White, who took over at the Brumbies last July, said there was nothing wrong with having expressed an interest in the role and did not rule out a move in the future.

“It’s something I’d look at – it doesn’t mean now, it doesn’t mean leaving my job,” he said.

England are currently being overseen by caretaker coach Stuart Lancaster, who took over after Johnson’s resignation
following last year’s troubled World Cup campaign in New Zealand.

On Friday, Lancaster picked the same team that came close to overturning Six Nations leaders Wales for Sunday’s match against France.

After watching his side lead Wales until the 72nd minute before losing to a late score last month, Lancaster stuck with the halfback combination of Lee Dickson and Owen Farrell despite the return to fitness of Charlie Hodgson and the availability of Toby Flood.

Flood had already returned to club side Leicester and Hodgson, who scored England’s only two tries so far in this year’s tournament, is back among the replacements after recovering from a cut hand.

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Interim coach Lancaster has done a solid job with the England team so far [GALLO/GETTY]

The only other change to the matchday 22 is the recall of World Cup lock Tom Palmer to the bench in place of Courtney Lawes, who has been ruled out of the tournament with a shin injury.

“We were really disappointed to lose to Wales but we took a lot out of the performance and felt it was right to pick the same starting team to go to Paris,” Lancaster said.

“It will be a massive challenge going to the Stade de France and playing against an experienced an unbeaten French side but we are excited about the opportunity and want to do the country proud.”

England lost their last trip to Stade de France 12-10 two years ago as the French clinched the Grand Slam. It won last season’s meeting at Twickenham 17-9 on its way to winning the Six Nations championship.

Only Ben Foden, Chris Ashton, Manu Tuilagi, Dan Cole and Tom Croft from the side that started October’s 19-12 World Cup quarterfinal defeat to France were picked to start Sunday by Lancaster.

Source: News Agencies