White summoned to face Boks’ chiefs
South Africa have failed to win on the road this year and face England at Twickenham tomorrow desperate to avenge the 23-21 defeat they suffered last weekend.
But even though success over Andy Robinson’s side would level the two-Test series, it still may not be enough to keep White in one of the most demanding jobs in world rugby.
He has been told to fly home next Wednesday to attend the meeting of the President’s Council in Cape Town, where a job review will take place.
White has been under immense pressure after losing six consecutive tests on the road, as well as home tests to the All Blacks and France in 2006.
On the current tour the Boks suffered a record 32-15 loss to Ireland and led 18-6 against England before losing at Twickenham last week.
Last week the most powerful provincial rugby union in the country, the Blue Bulls passed a motion of no-confidence against White and were supported by the Valke and Western Province rugby unions.
White will return to England next Thursday, to prepare for the festival game between a Springbok XV and World XV team on December 3 but he will know his fate before he returns to London.
The Presidents’ Council is the body made up of the 14 provincial union presidents and controls the contracts of the national coach and his management team.
SA Rugby released a statement yesterday confirming White’s return to South Africa.
“SA Rugby will issue a media statement after the meeting in Cape Town, relating to all key matters discussed at the Presidents Council gathering. No further media statements will be made before then,” the statement said.
Last Sunday the influential Afrikaans Sunday newspaper Rapport claimed that the four top figures in SA Rugby held “an emergency meeting” before the Twickenham game where it was decided that White would be removed and replaced with Bulls coach Heyneke Meyer. SA Rugby have repeatedly denied the claims, however.
