South Africa’s victorious Springboks rugby coach Jake White, poses with the Webb Ellis Trophy, the Rugby World Cup trophy, at Parliament in Cape Town 30 October 2007. Jake was accompanied by a small group of players, and Rugby Board officials. The whips of each of the political parties, paid tribute to the Springboks, and most MP’s were wearing some kind of Springbok colours. AFP PHOTO / RODGER BOSCH / AFP PHOTO / RODGER BOSCH
How to win the Rugby World Cup, according to Jake White
The road to World Cup glory begins on Saturday, according to a man who’s done it before.
South Africa’s victorious Springboks rugby coach Jake White, poses with the Webb Ellis Trophy, the Rugby World Cup trophy, at Parliament in Cape Town 30 October 2007. Jake was accompanied by a small group of players, and Rugby Board officials. The whips of each of the political parties, paid tribute to the Springboks, and most MP’s were wearing some kind of Springbok colours. AFP PHOTO / RODGER BOSCH / AFP PHOTO / RODGER BOSCH
Former Springbok coach Jake White believes Saturday’s clash against Australia is of great importance if the men in green and gold are to challenge for top honours in next year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan.
Rassie Erasmus’ men face up against the Wallabies in Brisbane, a side they failed to beat last year, as they played to a stalemate both home and away.
Speaking in an interview with Rugby World, the 2007 World Cup-winning coach believes that the Boks need to beat both Saturday’s opponents and the rampant world champions, the All Blacks if they are to stand a chance of hoisting the William Webb-Ellis trophy for the third time.
“I’m just going to use South Africa (as an example). If they don’t start beating New Zealand and Australia now, its highly unlikely that they will be able to psychologically get ready for the World Cup.”
South Africa last triumphed over Australia at Loftus Versfeld in 2016, while their recent record against New Zealand paints an even grimmer picture, with their last victory dating back as far as October 2014 at Ellis Park.
En-route to conquering the world, White’s class of 2007 managed to avoid their southern hemisphere rivals – who both crashed out in the quarterfinals – but had managed to put one over them a year prior to doing the Wallabies one more time as they triumphed over them months before the global showpiece.
He said the same thing had been done by the triumphant England side of 2003, which registered victories over all three of the southern hemisphere powerhouses, including the Springboks.
“When Clive (Woodward) took over the side, they didn’t have the belief they could beat Southern hemisphere sides, but if you go to Twickenham now you see how proud they are with little plaques that are against the wall with how many times they have beaten New Zealand, South Africa and Australia.”
South Africa take on Australia in Brisbane on Saturday at noon (SAST), just after New Zealand play host to Argentina in the third round of the Rugby Championship.
