White gets backing of PC

Jake White will continue as Springbok coach until the World Cup after the Blue Bulls failed to get majority support for a motion of no confidence in him at Wednesday's SA Rugby President's Council meeting in Cape Town.

"The important thing is that there is confidence in the head coach to take us through to the 2007 World Cup in France," SA Rugby President Oregan Hoskins said at a press conference shortly after White had squared up to the President's Council.

White had to leave the Springbok camp to attend the meeting. On Thursday evening he flew back to London to be with the team ahead of Sunday's friendly match against a World XV in Leicester.

"This meeting was important because the Blue Bulls tabled a motion of no confidence in the coach and as such it was put on the agenda for discussion," said Hoskins.

"It was discussed and debated at length. It was obviously a frank discussion. People had pertinent questions about selections and whether Jake needed any help.

"Every single member of the Presidents Council contributed his and his province's view on the matter. There was a minority that supported the motion... 5 or 6. The majority said 'go on with the job'."

SA Rugby did not, however, get into discussions about White's support structures, including the positions of assistant coaches Gert Smal and Allister Coetzee.

This may rear its head at a later stage as the SA Rugby board meets in George on December 8. The indications are, however, that there will be a role for the Super 14 coaches to assist White in some way next year. This includes Bulls coach Heyneke Meyer and Cheetahs mentor Rassie Erasmus, who have been spoken of as potential replacements for Smal and Coetzee next year.

"We just asked Jake if he would be flexible about getting in help if necessary. I would interpret it as saying that any reasonable help for the national team would be welcome," said Hoskins.

White said he was "relieved" at the outcome of the meeting.

"I can relax a bit and get on with the job of coaching. I speak on behalf of the presidents. That was one of the messages - let's give Jake an opportunity to stay on and do what he does best - that is coach," he said.

"I'd like to believe that after speaking to all the presidents and explaining the rationale behind decisions that have been made and planning that has been done that they got a much clearer insight as to what has happened.

"I was also very honest that not everything we have tried has worked and not every selection has been the correct one. It (the meeting) was worth it and I am just very thankful that it's been such a positive."