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Rugby Union

White ready to bide his time

19/11/2007

South Africa coach Jake White has cooled speculation that he could soon become England coach by insisting he will take his time in deciding his future.

White will step down from his current role in December after clashing with the South African Rugby Union after they informed him in the midst of his side's World Cup campaign that he must reapply for his post should he want to continue.

However the 43-year-old says that he is in no rush to take on a new challenge and insisted he did not want to further undermine Brian Ashton's precarious position by discussing the his England counterpart's job.

"It's unbelievable to think there have been six World Cups and England have been to three finals," he said.

"In some ways England probably play a similar style to South Africa and I've had links with England before when the Rob Andrew job [elite performance director] was available and that's why people have asked would I consider it.

"That's why I've said England - with whatever jobs - would always be a country I'd be interested in.

"But at this point I think there's nothing worse than being an incumbent coach in the country and listening all the time about some other guy trying to your vie for your job.

"I think it's a little unfair on a guy like Brian Ashton who's taken the team to the World Cup final."

The World Cup winner is currently preparing the Springboks for a two-match tour of the northern hemisphere which takes in games against Wales in Cardiff and the Barbarians at Twickenham.

The games will be his last in charge of the Springboks and White is determined that his next move is a considered one.

"I'd want to go to a club or country or a team where I think I can add value and get a return off the way they play. I don't want to take the first coaching job that comes about," he said.

White has already turned down the chance to coach Wales who subsequently hired former Ireland coach Warren Gatland to start from December.