Brumbies give White the nod

[Burgs]

...4 years. He and his family will have Aussie residency by then...

You may have actually stumbled across a key motivator there Muddy!

[BeeJay]

White would not have got the job if he didn't agree to having Larkham 'by his side' in an apprentice type situation. I think he (White) will fade to the background after a year or 2 with Larkham assuming most of the "hands on" duties, and Jake in more of a consultative role.

[James]

Its worthwhile giving Jake White a nice 4 year head coaching job. A proven world class coach, why not.

Eddie Jones was a 'proven' world class coach when he took over at the Reds. He wasn't the right man for the job and probably set the team back a year or two. Now personally I don't think that White was that fantastic a coach. He very nearly got sacked in 2006 after the Northern Hemisphere tour and coming dead last in the Tri-Nations. Yes he did win a world cup, but who did they beat? England and Argentina. An easier ride to a World Cup final you won't find. But that is unimportant, even if he is a great coach it doesn't make him necessarily the right person for the Brumbies.

Coach Andy Friend selected his own assistants coaches when he started, as will Jake White, Steve Larkham wasn't involved in the first 2 years of Friends appointment. Larkham just started this preseason in January, it is his first season with the Brumbies as an assistant coach.

Friends problems predate Larkham working at the Brumbies as an assistant coach. I'd be extremely surprised if Jake White didn't see value in Steve working at the Brumbies in 2012. Champion local flyhalves don't grow on trees. However he may change other assistant coaches or bring in other specialist resources. CEO Fagan has already publicly welcomed that.

I wasn't suggesting that Friend didn't want Larkham. It does appear that Jake White is keen to use Larkham, although he can't exactly say that he won't- that would be suicide in Brumbies circles.

Andy Friend failed to meet his full coaching duties and disengaged with the playing group, thats why he was let go...

Unless there is something I was missing, Andy Friend was sacked because his coaching methods weren't working and he didn't accept any input from those around him (assistants/players). Are White's methods going to work for the Brumbies? I'm not convinced. Will White change his plans on the basis of player group suggestions and his assistants opinions? Again, not convinced. This won't necessarily be a problem but if it is I would bet it is a big one.

At least the Brumbies board had the guts to make the call unlike the board at the Force in regards to John Mitchell. Their reward for making an early call was they managed to get RWC coach Jake White on deck for the next 4 years... Thats good for Brumbyland.

I like your optimism Muddy. I doubt problems like those with Friend happened overnight. Guts would've been a pre-emptive strike months before or to have found a workable solution until the season's end. Rather those than sacking a coach 2 games into the season and only winning one game from that point. Guts is doing whats best for the team no matter how hard it is and you can't help but think something better could've been done. Besides I'd bet White would've been available even if they had started talking to him towards the end of the season. It's not like he was employed in a coaching role before the Brumbies appointment.

Now who knows, maybe White will bring a hard edge to Brumbies pack and, if he stays, finally turn Mark Chisholm into a fear-inspiring player. I doubt many people thought Ewen McKenzie was going to be so widely successful for the Reds, hell I know I didn't. White definitely deserves credit for not bullshitting about 'rebuilding phase' or '3 year plan'. Nothing more refreshing than a straight shooter. I also wouldn't deny there is a distinct advantage come recruiting time in having certainty about the future and about having a 'big name' coach. But I still think better options would've come along as White isn't the right man for the job.

[GIGS20]

I think it's really interesting that Tony Rea has named Gits at 12 this week.......probably decided that the day he found out he wasn't going to be there next year.

I'd start thinking about winning matches regardless of what messages it sends to the "leadership group" myself as well!

[James]

But Giteau was always going to be gone for 2012 anyway. There is too much chopping and changing between Lilo, Giteau and Toomua. You've got to go with Giteau at 10, Lilo at 12 and Toomua at 15 (or as a backup 10/12 from the bench). It might take them a game or two to fire but for this season it is where they fit best. Bring AAC back to 13 and put Fainifo and McCabe on the two wings.

[travelling_gerry]

First item on the agenda for the Brumbies ----- Striped Blazers!!

[mudskipper]

First item on the agenda for the Brumbies ----- Striped Blazers!!

Yep... Jake White may insist on selecting his own team tailor... ... Eddie Jones?

[mudskipper]

The ACT Brumbies want to give Jake White a Super Rugby headstart and hope his impressive coaching credentials will aid their attempts to book a post-season overseas tour this year.

Brumbies chief executive Andrew Fagan is negotiating with clubs in Japan and Europe about the possibility of White leading the ACT side for the first time abroad in either July or August.

White who will be the Brumbies' new coach at the end of the season is expected to move to Canberra in July.

The South African signed a four-year deal to be in the capital.

And the Brumbies believe taking the club's non-Wallabies players on what is likely to be a three-game tour would accelerate White's impact on the squad.

''It would be two or three games if we can get a suitable time,'' Fagan said.

''It would be a good opportunity for Jake to get to know the players and stamp his authority on the team before the Super Rugby season next year.

''At this stage we're looking at Japan and Europe, but it has to be a suitable opportunity in a time frame that works for both the players and coaches.

''It would be a great way to get a headstart on things and start under the new coach.''

The Brumbies have been on an overseas tour before to try and develop their game.

Sacked coach Andy Friend took the team to France at the end of the 2009 Super Rugby season.

Despite not being a head coach since guiding South Africa to victory at the World Cup in 2007, White has strong connections in Japan, France and England.

In his time away from full-time coaching, White has worked as a consultant at some of the world's leading clubs.

Fagan said the Brumbies would use White's contacts to try and book the trip.

While the Brumbies are playing two games in South Africa starting tomorrow morning against the Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein White is unable to catch up with the players in his homeland.

He will instead travel to Canberra twice before the season ends to meet the players and coaching staff.

His first visit to Canberra Stadium will be for the Brumbies' match against the Johannesburg Lions on May 14.

The addition of White as a coach will make the Brumbies an extremely attractive franchise.

He has won a World Cup, a Tri Nations series and is a two-time winner of the international coach of the year award.

White has already spoken with James O'Connor about moving to Canberra next season and is hoping to lure him away from the Melbourne Rebels and Western Force.

Fagan described White as ''one of the best credentialled coaches in Brumbies history''.

And while fans had voiced their displeasure at the way Friend was sacked after just two games this year, White credited Fagan with his increased excitement in joining the Brumbies.

''You have to work very closely with management and you have to be sure that you are all working towards the same goal,'' White said.

''We [White and Fagan] share the same vision, we both want to take the Brumbies to the same place and get that attacking aura back in the team.

''I was very impressed with the way everything was handled and how things are being run.''


http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news...px?storypage=0

[GIGS20]

[B]''I was very impressed with the way everything was handled and how things are being run.''
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news...px?storypage=0

seems a bit naive for a guy who's been coaching for so long "yeah, I was really impressed with the way they ripped up the previous coach's contract in week two, immediately after he said in the press there was nothing wrong" and "we're on pretty much the same page"

Surely he would have been better served to say something like "it was unfortunate, the way that Andy departed, but Andy and I have the same goals, and I'm comfortable that I can bring the expected success in those goals"

[mudskipper]

Former Brumbies greats recruited by new coach

Jake White will enlist the help of some of the ACT Brumbies' greatest players in an attempt to boost the club's chances of being successful next year.

On the same day he was announced as the new Brumbies coach, White flagged his intention to recruit George Gregan, Joe Roff, Rod Kafer and Jeremy Paul as consultants.

The Brumbies unveiled White as their new mentor yesterday.

He will move to Canberra in July to start preparations for his four-year tenure in the capital. And giving former players a greater input and ownership of the team is at the top of his priority list.


''I just think [the Brumbies] are sitting on a gold mine. It's not about reinventing the wheel,'' White said.

''It's a successful brand, it's well known all over the world and there was an aura about the way [the Brumbies] played.

''You've got brains and people who have lived and died in a Brumbies jumper like Gregan, Roff, [Stephen] Larkham, Paul, Kafer, Owen Finegan.

''The reality is that as many of those guys can be part of the set-up, the better you're going to be going forward.

''One of the things I've been big on is the history and tradition that comes with the Springboks and the Brumbies.

''I really want to make those people feel that they're proud to be ex-Brumbies and that they can contribute to making sure the Brumbies brand stays powerful.''

Larkham is already an assistant coach with the Brumbies. Gregan visited Brumbies training last week to help tutor the scrumhalves and indicated he was keen to be more involved next year as a consultant.

Former Brumbies coach Eddie Jones is another who is likely to be used as a coaching consultant. Jones was assistant to White during the Springboks' successful 2007 World Cup campaign. White will wait until he moves to Canberra before deciding what, if any, changes he will make to the Brumbies' set-up.
Time and training constraints prevented White from meeting the Brumbies players and coaching staff while the team was in Cape Town on Tuesday.

But he hoped that using the knowledge and expertise of former players would be a major step in re-establishing the Brumbies as a Super Rugby force.

''The most important thing for me to do right now is to listen,'' White said.

''When I get [to Canberra] for the first 30 days I will listen and observe.

''Once I have done that then at least I'm coming from an informed position about what I think needs to be done to go forward.

''Obviously I have my own ideas about what a successful team should look like and what a successful team should behave like and train like.

''Hopefully if it's on par with that there's no reason to change ... but there's no use compromising on what you think is a recipe for success.''


http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news...px?storypage=0


INTERESTING TIMES

[James]

And while fans had voiced their displeasure at the way Friend was sacked after just two games this year, White credited Fagan with his increased excitement in joining the Brumbies.

GIGS, I prefer this one. What in gods name does it actually mean? What does increased excitement look like?

[Burgs]

Hope White is covering the bill for the extended coaching panel instead of using up player contract resources then crying poor to the ARU.

[AndyS]

Sounds like he'll be spending as much time managing ex-coaches and players as the current crop! It will be interesting to see how he goes managing player power, if most of his caoching and consultancy team were directly responsible for it. It is starting to sound like the old England set-up, with coaches man-marking players. That, or he is whispering all the nice fuzzy things folk want to hear until he gets his feet under the desk.

[benny]

Absolute Rocks in there head (but doesn't suprise me with Canberra in general)

Look at the records - they speak for them self.

Since Super 12 (Win-Loss-Draw)

Rod McQueen – 1996 – 1997 (16-8-0)
Eddie Jones – 1998 – 2001 (28-20-0)
David Nucifora – 2002 – 2004 (24-14-0)
Laurie Fisher – 2005 – 2008 (28-20-2)
Andy Friend – 2009 – 2011 (17-11-0)
Tony Rea - 2011 (1-5-0)
Jake White - 2012 -

Only 1 coach since there inception have gone past 4 years and they are signing White, okay he's been a great coach in the past, but is that the bee-all-and-end-all ?

We've seen what SAFFA Coaches are like, did nothing for WA Cricket and i expect them to be in a simular place if not worse off from next year. (both WA Cricket and Brumbies)

[mudskipper]

Eddie: Jake will pass test

Cape Town – The Brumbies will rediscover their traditional way of playing under Jake White, but also acquire the discipline and physicality that were hallmarks of his Springbok teams.

That was the prediction from former Brumbies and Wallaby coach Eddie Jones following the announcement that White had signed a four-year contract to coach the Super Rugby team from Australia.

“Jake has always admired the Brumbies’ traditional way of playing. I believe he will add the Boks’ discipline and physicality to that,” said Jones.

White will nevertheless have to adapt to coaching an Australian side. South African teams tend to play with less possession, while the Aussies like to keep the ball through more phases.

“Everybody knows Jake is a very sharp guy. Australian teams tend to need more than 50% possession to win games, while South African teams can do it with 40% possession. Jake will grasp that and coach accordingly,” said Jones.

“He can help bring a work-rate to the Brumbies’ defence. It’s a new generation of Brumbies players coming through.”

Jones does not believe there will be problems between White and the Brumbies’ senior players.

“There will be more than enough opportunities for the players to provide their input and he will use them in the same way he tapped into Victor Matfield, Fourie du Preez and John Smit at the Springboks.

But there can only be one boss. Most good players understand that,” said Jones.

“The Brumbies have lost their vision of how they want to play and their values. They won the tournament previously because they were the team that worked the hardest – similar to the teams of the Bulls and Crusaders that achieved success.”

The Brumbies job is White’s first full-time coaching appointment since leading South Africa to success at the World Cup in 2007. He has worked mostly as a consultant since then.

“Jake is similar to George Gregan in Australia – he gets more respect from outside his own country,” said Jones.

“People either like or dislike Jake. He is one of the top coaches of the professional era in rugby to date.”

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Super...-test-20110428