Jake White grabs the Bulls by the horns with dual role

Jake White wants to make sure that the Bulls rugby machine adopts his philosophy from top to bottom.

The newly appointed Bulls director of rugby revealed this week that he would also assume the role of head coach of the flagship team in a revamped coaching structure. 

White grabs the Bulls by the horns

White will spearhead a drive to fully professionalise the Bulls junior rugby structures to ensure the Union continues to produce international quality players.

“We want to make sure we produce the best players. The professional u/20 players should almost mimic senior teams. We are making the junior staff professional,” White said in an interview on Breakfast with Martin Bester on Jacaranda FM.

White, who is still in Cape Town, because of the lockdown said he could not resist the opportunity to guide Bulls Rugby.

“It is a no-brainer to join a club like the Bulls,” White said.

Breakdowns the key

White says that his coaching team will be built to place increased emphasis on the breakdown, where he feels the Bulls can improve.

To that end White has drafted in former Bulls head coach Nollis Marais as breakdowns coach.

“Teams have always had consultants or forwards coaches addressing the breakdown as part of their broader roles,” White said in a separate interview.

“This will become a key focus area for us going forward, especially with the breakdown laws being changed.

“It also speaks to the type of rugby we will be looking to play. Nollis has been around the block and knows exactly what we need. I have no doubt that he is the perfect man for this job.”  

The Bulls have begun to redress their lack of black coaches with the recruitment of Joey Mongalo, the new defence coach. Mongalo showed promise on the coaching staff of the Lions but is no stranger to Tshwane, having played for the Bulls.

White has the task of finding a new scrum coach as the Bulls allow Daan Human to step up to the Springboks as the replacement for Matt Proudfoot.

“We will be looking to announce a new scrum coach in the near future, as we have agreed to release Daan Human to the Springboks,” White added.

“He has done some amazing work with the pack, as can be seen on the field, and will undoubtedly be missed at Loftus

“We have already engaged a few candidates and are confident that we will announce a suitable replacement shortly.”

Russell Winter has been appointed as the Bulls new forwards coach while backline coach Chris Rossouw retains his position.

Pine Pienaar remains on the backroom staff but sees his brief shifted from defence coach to technical advisor.