Fire Jake White, NOW!

"Firstly, Congratulations Ireland. They deserved the victory and totally outplayed the boks. There are just too many problems to mention in one mail.  I'll give it a try though.

"Team Selection : The squad selection was wrong from the outset. Too many players are not international players. Namely, Ackerman; Van der Berg; Sephaka. Thats 3 of the tight five. Too many weak links. Loose forewards a mess. Needed more pace to the point of breakdown. Cant play without the ball. No fetcher!

"How important has this position become over the last 24 mnths. No team in the world can be without at least one specialist ground player. (Ireland had 3 ) Too many players forced to play out of position. Poor Jaco Pretorious may have just seen his chances of a WC evaporate. The best centre in the country at the moment been forced to play out of position. I wish I could just see the value in doing that. No Boss in the world would employ an accountant to market the company. Doesnt make sense !

"Technical Support : Alistair Coetzee couldnt organize a sand castle in the desert. The backs are clueless and are forced to rely on individual brilliance. Time for him to abandon the gravy train. How on earth can the boks tour the UK without a specialist scrummage coach. ( Balie Swart ) Its unreal really. Yet theres place for Yeye.

"The Coach : I wish I knew what was going through his head. I know he can produce results, we've seen it. One too many slip ups right now. Oregan needs to intervene before its too late. Atleast the right selecton would definately be a huge move in the right direction.

"WC coming up sooner than you can say 'what went wrong this time Jake White'. To the boks, good luck for Twickenham. You'll need it."
- Peter Venter

"For goodness sake pick guys in there known positions and on form! Stop making experiments of which 'Joe average' knows the putcome of before the match. Pick a coach that is a good strategist and tactician! Each should have it’s own strategy."
- Willem van Riet

"I think a good way for the springboks to win again would be to sack Jake white.

"Is it just me or does none of the following make any sense:
1. Pick a young experimental side to tour the Northern hemisphere. In doing so pick no recognized fetcher, and leave two of the most outstanding stars at home, Luke Watson and Kabamba Floors.
2. Despite Brent Russell getting almost no game time during the tri-nations, give him a rest as well. Why on earth would we need his game-breaking talents
3. Go up against an experienced quality Irish side at Lansdowne Road with a new back three, a new centre pairing and wonder why we get walloped
4. Play half the team out of position. Habana, Spies, Smith all had wonderful games because of it.
5. Leave JP and Ruan Pienaar on the bench when there are twenty minutes left and we are 15 points behind.
6. Employ the rush defence regardless of a certain 49–0 drubbing we received recently

"Right now we have so much talent in SA rugby it is ridiculous. We have just had probably the highest standard Currie Cup ever, we dominate at U21 level, and then.. nothing.

"Something is very wrong. World Cup or not, sack Jake and bring in Rassie and Dick Muir, it is disgraceful how badly the springbok jersey is being mismanaged."
- Chris Salmon

"Pick Luke Watson as Captain, drop John Smit. Everybody knows this!"
- Charl Deutschmann

"There has been allot of talk about this in the past but the reason they are loosing is because we are field substandard players. Also the players that we do field keeps on being played out of position. Its very simple, if you ask a builder to do an audit on your business all your going to end up with is a mess and possible jail time.

"Throwing, Steyn (A FLY-HALF) on the wing and to top matters our other wing is a centre and our centre is a wing. Lack of leadership was also played a major part in disgracing our centennial year, im disgusted with the effort that was shown on the field. You may as well have fielded the 1906 team as our team was about as energetic as a bunch of 100 year old geriatrics.

"What can be done for them to win? I don't blame the players for one second, anybody with a bit of rugby sense and eyes could have seen that after the brilliant Currie Cup season we most certainly have the quality in our players in SA to once again be the keepers of the William web Ellis trophy.

"I think we need a complete restructure of top management as well as coaching. Fire the whole lot and start with the selectors. If i hear the word transformation and sport in the same sentence again im going to throw up, we don't need politics in sport anymore and the sooner this country realizes it, the better."
- Slicker

"As the tour is already a failure, Jake can just as well keep on going with his experiments. He can't bring Kabamba or Luke, so the fetcher issue will remain a problem for the remainder of the tour.
 
"Jake, give Steyn a change on flyhalf, Jaco Pretorius on centre, Habana on wing, Wynand Olivier on the other wing. I know that Politically, Wynand Olivier is the wrong choice on wing, but we will need his defence against the likes of Ben Cohen. Make Ruan Pienaar your scrumhalf, as Ricky is unfit. Shift Danie Rossouw to Lock and give Hilton 'the madman'' Lobberts a change on the flank. If he is carded, it will show Jake that he is not the answer. At least we know that Hilton will not give any thing less than 191 percent. Besides, Juan Smith is not match fit, but hey, we all knew that.

"Jake do us another favour, sent your captain back to Durban, make Gary your Hooker and choose a knew captain (maybe even Gary himself). Replace Sephaka with BJ Botha! I know you have social responsibilities, so I will understand if Sephaka must play. It is unfortunate though, because besides scrumming he is dead weight on the field.
 
"Now Jake is using the excuse of the provincial teams that do not use the 'rush' defence. Jake please drop your pride, your arrogance is killing our rugby. The reason why the provincial teams do not employ your defensive tactics, is because it creates attacking opportunities.

"So stop using the local coaches as your scapegoat. You are the only coach in world rugby that do not employ a fetcher, which still leaves me dumfounded, because you always say how difficult it is to play without Schalk Burger. Huh?

"Maybe you should let your sons play, as you at least regard them as fetchers! On Saturday we will again sit in front of the TV and again hope for the best!"
- Wally Pepler

"Pick form players like Luke Watson, Kambamba Floors and Barend Pieterse instead of peolpe that havent played for some time - Juan Smith and retirees ast the age of 36!"
- Paul Rice

"How do I feel? That the Springbok is dead, and the politicians are smiling on the gravy train, and we are paying for their journey, and they don’t give a damn about rugby! they don’t even know the game, and some of them did not even play the game.

"Rugby in SA will only get worse because it is surrendered to those who don’t care, as long as it is just political correct and it pays money to banana republicans. That is why there are couches that can’t couch, that is why there are selectors that should not select, that is why there are players that should not play, that is why there is a president who can’t rule, that is why there is a manager that can’t manage, that is why the Springbok is not honored, that is why youth and club rugby are dying, that is why kids support other international teams and will leave this country, that is why I feel ashamed and emasculated as a South African rugby lover.

"Rugby in South Africa is desecrated, and the tombstone is already broken. I am more “patriotic” and knowledgeable about All Black rugby than about this pathetic situation here in South Africa."
- Lyon

"Play Ryan Pienaar at Flyhalf."
- Jane Gilbert

"I have the greatest respect for Jake white as a coach; I also agree that we had to rest our senior players for the year end tour, but to play new players out of their established positions against a quality side like Ireland, smacks of stupidity or arrogance!"
- Kieron Jansen van Nieuwenhuizen

"I am a PROUD RUBY SUPPORTER – or was. I was emabrassed by the performance on Saurday.

"Looking a t the squad – I don’t know where to start?  The Fullback looks so out of shape & slow. After 25 minutes he was huffing  & puffing – TOP ATHLETES SHOULDN’T BE BLOWING THROUGH THEIR BACKSIDES THAT EARLY in the game.

"IF something drastic isn’t done RSA Rugby will be the laughing stock of WORLD RUGBY."
- Lance O'Brien

"How can we win? First begin by finding a new team coach and backline coach! I felt sorry for these mostly inexperienced and poorly prepared Boks, but only disgust toward Jake White who since the pleasure his 2004 successes gave us has subjected the Boks and us supporters to an unnecessary roller-coaster of emotions  -  and that includes humiliation. His judgment is poor and likewise some of his selections.

"Yes, we have some great finds in Spies, young Steyn, Olivier, B.J. Botha and others, but what will it take to convince White that Lawrence Sephaka should not have been there today and that there should have been a far stronger representation of experienced Boks to guide and influenced new and young players? Once B.J. Botha came on for Sephaka the Boks began ‘drilling’ Ireland in set pieces. Who was surprised? Not me.  Why would it surprise White?

"Why were these Boks taken off-guard by quick Irish choices from free kicks?  But they were!  Why did Danie Rossoux not pursue with all his might the Irish player going for the try-line, or then cut him off to prevent him scoring under the posts, or make an effort to knock the ball out of his hands in the in-goal area?

"Danie Gerber and other former Boks have said that we don’t have a good backline coach. Once again that much was evident. So why do the Boks and those in authority not do something drastic about it?

"What happened today on a supposedly special occasion was real rubbish and I now seriously wonder if it is worth the effort watching next week. Now when last did I feel this way? Oh yes, just earlier this season when we were being thrashed!"
- Rob Porter

"After the loss to Argentina one of the English papers made the following comment: 'Now is not soon enough for Andy Robinson to resign.' And I can't help but have the same feelings towards Jake White and his coaching team after South Africa's loss against Ireland. A loss that can only be described as an example of breathtaking incompetence by the players to do the basic things right.

"It may have been the inaccuracy of the players that cost us the game, but I hold Jake White 100 percent responsible for the lack of a game plan on the day and worse, his failure to change this 'game plan' in the second half.

"I was taught from a very young age in my rugby playing days what to do and what not to do when you play against or with the wind and how important it is to go up in a straight line in defence etc. After Saturdays game however, it became apparent that all my coaches must have been wrong as the coach of my national team was clearly instructing his players to do the opposite.

"His team selections and the arguments for them, along with the excuses after the game, are laughable not only for the South African supporters but for all rugby supporters across the world. How does it happen that what was obvious to everyone was not seen by Jake White?

"Jake White might use the end of the year tours for experimenting; however I believe that he does this with no regard for the thousands of South African supporters who spend hundred of pounds to support their national team. I truly believe that if he continues to manage the team in this way he will be forever damaging the long history of successful tours of the northern hemisphere which so many South African's look upon with pride.

"How many mistakes does Jake White need to make before someone calls for his resignation? In my opinion he has already made one mistake too many."
- Will Smit

"I predicted that the 'Boks' would be annihilated by the 'Irish' this past weekend. How can anyone get excited about 'The Boks' or even imagine that they have the players to make a decent squad? Just look at the history of SA rugga since the Super 10. Then ask me where are these so called MEGA players? At Super 12 and 14 level the SA teams didn't do much, haven't done much and are fairly pedestrian when compared to the Kiwis and Ozzies. There is no structure to the game played at Curry Cup level never mind Super 14 level....don't even talk about the Tri- Nations.

"Over glorified players who are worshiped for their provincial rugga, forgiven for their Super 14 rugga (because of travel..give me a break folks) and then excused for their International rugga including the Tri-Nations. I think Argentina should be included in the Tri-Nations event, this can be easily achieved by replacing the team that comes last in the event with The Pumas, much like your Spears and Lions debate in the Super 14 (ha ha ha ha ha rolling around here with laughter).

"Mr Jake White you are so very close to the World Cup event and yes it is next year 2007, and what have you to show for it? You lost the Freedom Cup, Tri-Nations Cup, Mandela Cup, back to back defeats to the Irish, can't beat England or France and I bet you if The Pumas played the Boks this past weekend it still would be a defeat for the Boks.

"Mr White the way you manage your players is mirroring Sir Woodward's management before England won the world cup, don't you think that this style of management is now as obsolete as your rush defence? Shouldn't you have, by now, a group of say 45 players to field on any given day? Why are you not mirroring the Kiwi management? Goes begging mate! Rotation is the Key........Mr White you are so retro you should be an advertisement!

"Here in England they are not talking about preparing for the 2007 world cup, they are talking about the one after that. The reality is that they know it would be a huge turn of good fortunes in their direction (much like the 1995 final world cup when the Boks just beat the ill Kiwis) to beat the Kiwis, no one can beat them. Look what they did to the French, who happen to be the second best side in the world! And the French have thumped the 'Boks' on their previous games!

"Just when are you blokes from Southern Africa going to realise that the prowess of the once mighty Bok is gone for good, the rugga world has moved on from big lumpy brainless players to smart, ingenious magicians. Yes you now need a degree in physics just to play the game.

"The rush defence is now retro, passé, history. The big forward play is also history (well almost....if they are Kiwi big forwards then Oh my gosh what would the rugga world then be saying).

"The question I leave you with is this- Is the rest of the rugby world that bad or are the Kiwis just the best ever side to hold that oddly shaped ball?"
- John Granger

"When is jake going to get his head out the sand and select players that can work into the world cup.. instead of relying on older players to try and win a a game or two to keep his job, why doesn't pick the young talent like luke watson, kabamba floors and other numerous young talent on SA."
- Ray Jacobson

"Point no 1: I'm still confident that our defensive system works. I've no doubt it works when it's executed properly. One of my frustrations as a coach is no domestic team in South Africa uses it. He has absolutely no insight. Another case of everybody else is wrong and I am the only one in the world that is right.

"Point no 2: Peter Stringer and Ronan O'Gara kicked to the right hand corner and it was difficult to get out. We just couldn't get out of the corner in the first half. So what did he tell the team at halftime after the Irish commentators were praying for the gale force wind to stop. It seem either NOTHING or try to run the ball out of our own 25. He and his staff cannot even interpret a whole first half of rugby and come to the right conclussion. Unfortunately he will have to go. A win against the hapless English should not be enough to save him. This is not about the team that was chosen but about pure basics that it seems he has difficulty in grasping."
- Heinrich Lamprecht

"The ONLY way is to FIRE JAKE WHITE! France, New Zealand, Australia & now even the Irish are making a joke of our forwards. The amount of turn over ball is PURELY due to the lack of skill of our flanks.

"How can Luke Watson or Kabamba Floors be kept out of the team & instead to select an out-of-form Juan Smith (who hasn't played rugby for over 6 months) is beyond a joke & Jake White's discrimination must END NOW. Luke Watson has been nominated as player of the year in South Africa. For you Jake that means he has been nominated as South Africa's BEST player - grow up Jake. Perhaps your boys should fetch your resignation papers instead of that bitter beer.

"The only depth we lack is in our coach! To play our best wing at centre & as for all the pathetic attempts at intercepts left our defence a joke!

"Modern rugby revolves around the breakdown & the Springboks can't even hold on to their OWN ball let alone turn around our opposition. Dan Akerman - retirement is there for a reason. Juan Smith - how you accept the position knowing that you are not even our 3rd best flank?

"Bevin Fortuin - fair enough, that was his first test match but he needs to sharpen up majorly in his defence. And please put him on a sprinting program to help his speed. There are no second chances at this level.

"The bottom line is - the Springboks have won only 2 out of their last 8 tests! That makes Jake White the biggest losing coach in Springbok history.

"How much difference can 1 man make (Luke Watson)? In the embarrasing record annihilation by Australia recently,... George Smith single handedly turned over more ball than the ENTIRE Springbok team together (stats taken from rugby365). That Jake is how much of a difference 1 man can make,....50 points! Jake must GO!"
- Baris Jason

"By having a coach who picks the best available players. Barend Pieterse is better than Albert. Danie Rossouw is better utilized as a lock. We have far better front rows in the currie cup squads than his choices. Luke Watson and Kabamba Floors would bring some speed to the break down. Jaco Pretorious was played out of position.

"We also need a coach who does not undermine the confidence of his players by going to the media three days before the test to announce to the world that we must not expect too much. Jake says he is envious of the Ireland coach for blah blah blah. I would like to point out that Ireland chose their best available players.

"Jake could have picked other second string players who in my humble opinion would have performed better. That front row is a disgrace. Vrystaat and die Bulle would have destroyed them. We need an Afrikaans coach and a new selection committee. Let the new coach pick his assistant coaches. Also we use the Australian scrumming machine I wonder if Australia use the same machine. Yeah I know I know, I am just shit disturbing.

"I feel for these kids and will say this, they played better in the second half of the game. That shows me it is not them."
- Des

"Playing three inexperienced new caps in the back line was always going to be a gamble and unfortunately their inexperience showed. The blame, if any, sits with Jake White, he complains when provincial coaches play his players out of position and yet he plays Brian'intercept'Habana at centre when for most, if not all, of his international career he has played on the wing. Habana was a liability on the wing, how many overlaps has he given opposition teams by continually going for the intercept, and at centre he is even worse.

"Our 'physical' big pack...what a joke, I can't remember the last time we actually dominated anyone, so much for Jake's obsession with size...one or two players don't make a pack! Sephaka should not even be warming the bench, if it's colour we need then Floors provides it, not only that, but he actually adds value and we might then have someone who can compete at the breakdown and get us some ball!

"If Jake wants us to start wining he should probably watch last nights Kiwi v France clash, over and over and over again... what a game!"
- Daniel Kelly

"Two things need to happen; first for heaven's sake drop Sephaka ..he can't scrum and he does nothing else. He is a liability. Secondly we must have a fetcher in the back row. I know Schalk would normally fulfil that role and Jake has it in for Watson , but surely someone else in SA rugby could fulfil it? Playing 3 similar behemoths in the back row makes no sense. Beyond those two basics the boys have to tackle! Rudimentary stuff..30 missed tackles! Come on Bokke!"
- Glen Berelowitz

"One of the greatest rugby nations in world, played like high schoolers. Poor tackling, missed tackles, high tackles. Stand NO chance against England.... Stand NO chance in world cup... Outclassed outgunned outplayed."
- Dylan Evans

"The only way the boks can win again is if White gets fired! He himself says he is using a defensive system that is not used by any teams in South Africa. This team is an embarresment to South Africa."
- Robert Meyer

"As an ardent supporter of the boks I have to say that the game against Ireland is giving cause for concern. Living in England has not been easy when you are supporting a team that wins Tri nations and beats the AB but always fails when touring the northern hemisphere. I have tickets to next weeks game and am quite frankly thinking that we will be doing Andy Robinson a favour by ending his loosing streak….

"One realises that we are blooding in new players but have a long way to go if they are going to be up to the mark. Is this because we have the quota system or what?? There is no doubt that there is plenty of talent in SA but come on guys winning is important too!"
- Malcolm Brierley

"The Boks can win again IF Jake White leaves his massive ego at home and does the right thing for world rugby and falls on his sword.. nothing else, plain and simple!"
- Aidan Webb

"Yes what a dismal performance. I truly believe there is to much politics in the SA camp. The players package deals are far to lucrative. they should be rewarded only with wins only. And lastly I think SA rugby should hire a Kiwi coach to get the players to the right level."
- Dirk Lamprecht

"How can the Boks win again? Good question, infact very good question, in truth I think one of the commentators summed it up for us, 'South Africa are just not as strong as what they used to be', although alot of us choose to ignore this it's what we all know deep down inside, and it hurts when we used to stand so proudly where-ever we ventured.

"Truth is, as hard as Jake White try's to tamper with combinations for the world cup he's getting absolutly nowhere very fast, infact Talking Heads song 'Road to Nowhere' surely must be banging through his ears. 10 Years ago we couldve fielded a second string team that wouldve gone closer, alot closer than the team he put out today, 100 years on, so dont we have the depth we used to or is it infact just Jake White been quite clearly Jake White in a nutshell.

"So how can we win?, no doubt there hundreds of us typing away this morning with plenty of idea's, analysing stats of the game where he (Good ol' Jake) has once again had egg splattered across his face. Well Jake I'll add a few more and maybe on your return to SA you can read through them and smile saying I knew better,....yip, 4 defeats later.

"Here are my concerns:
Problem 1. Lawrence Sephaka, No need to say another word, or maybe one, club rugby
Problem 2.  Johan Ackermann, 36, Only question here, Why did you pick him Jake, plain and simple, just answer the question?
Problem 3. Pierre Spies, 1 brilliant try saving tackle, and ...........Why did Jacques Cronjé not start ? And in your words the Irish are a bigger threat than the English
mmm, once again good tacticle choice Jake.
Problem 4.Bryan Habana, CENTRE, say no more.
 
"Verdict. I feel Jake White wants South Africa to learn things the hard way, the very hard way, instead of helping develop players, he's tampering with there positions and causing more of a headache for himself, STICK TO THE POSITION THEY LIKE TO PLAY IN WHITE.

"Only positives:
Plus. Francois Steyn, This guy has plenty of promise, looked dangerous, very impressive.
Plus. Jaco Pretorius, Hadve he started outside Jean, I feel just maybe things couldve been a little different with the try count against us.
 
"This week George Bush got a wake up call when the public voted in mid term elections, Wonder what the outcome would be with White. UNWANTED and TOTALLY DISLIKED."
- Justin Barclay

"Leadership on the field is abysmal … John Smit must go … he accepts losses too easily. Passion … what happened to it?  Saw none of it today and precious little this season.  That is the responsibility of Bok leadership … with or without quotas … Tactics … stale and predictable … time for Erasmus?"
- James Simkins

"There is no point in crying over it. The Springboks came up against a more professional and mature team and must learn all they can from this defeat. Those first caps had to be tried and tested and the same applies to those who are returning from injury.  I do not think that being too critical will do any help. In the old days, teams went on tour for a few months. They had time to blood younger players and could also decide what their test team would be.

"Unfortunately, this is not the case today. A player is thrown in at the deep end.  The pace and tempo of a test match is so much faster than Currie Cup. They have been in this position before and have succeeded in turning it around. The only major point I can point out is that they must intensify their physical aggression. They really need to hit the opposition hard with the intention of knocking them backwards, i.e. be it in a tackle or simply trying to create a gap by smashing through opposition.

"Instead, they hit the opposition with the purpose of trying to set up a move which results in the Irish knocking them backwards as it is easier to knock a target coming slowly at you than at full pace. It seem to me that the Springboks place more emphasis on tactics. Individual skills need to be monitored and improved using skills instructors as is done in the NFL."
- Nicolette Liller

"THE Manager: - Just where was this politician dredged from ?, not long ago names like Naas Botha, and others with a rugby brain, were being dropped as possibilities for the position of Manager.
 
"That made sense because like orhate him Naas does know soemthing about rugby. Funny that thelateKitch Christie and Morne du Plessis also knew something about Rugby and the end result of their relationship was World Cup crown. Funny that. Any thoughts on that one.
 
"Now this clown is rolled out, someone said commissar, that is exactly it.
 
"Hey Mr Hoskins are you actually a President or just a consensus bloke. Do you kow what it is to be a LEADER do you have a vision or are just sticking about to collect your political thank- you's. Wake and smell the biltong, Mr President because I have watched you as you haveswung through Australia and New Zealand. You are NO Dr.Danie Craven neither are you a Louis Luyt (love him or hate him - he coud deliver.
 
"A President, who is a Leader, can override the selection committe just go and ask Thys Lourens why he never became a Springbok.
 
"Appointment a manager who is a recognised rugby man with a rugby brain who is a leader.
 
"To the Irish:- Well done, Jake you just never seem to get it right do you. What do you get paid for??????????. Can anyone help me with my intellectual problem. Perhaps some of us are just so dumb but Jake can see it all.
 
"So we move on to the next match. Time is running out. Watch out my Bok fans, cards are a good alternative. Perhaps we pick up the pieces after the World Cup. Jake do NOT expect an invite."
- David Burden

"Fire Jake White!"
- Jaco van Eck

"I’ll tell you something it is getting more and more embarrassing to watch my beloved BOKS get their behinds handed to them! Please …for gods sake make Joke White see the light and bring a fetcher I don’t care if it is Luke or Kabamba…just bring one in. Further more get rid of the backline coach, the defensive coach and the forwards coach, just by watching this game I could tell the players had NO inkling of what to do…DISGUSTING DISGUSTING DISGUSTING !"
- Ryan Karim

"It is easy and not a question to be asked but a answer to be given. Pick a management team that can select players with talent who will play for there country and the PRIDE of our jersey. Get a captain that can motivate and maybe play a bit of rugby. Get a senter pair that can tackle.

"Change the players allowance, if you win you get your pay check if you loose you get nothing.
 
"The complete tour and all that is representing them at this time is a disgrace to South African Rugby, our nation and a JOKE.

"Jake & Smith time pass, get new LEADERS not followers."
- Willie Botha