Brumbies coach Jake White smiles after victory in the International tour match between the ACT Brumbies and the British Irish Lions at Canberra Stadium on June 18, 2013 in Canberra, Australia. Photo: Mark Metcalfe / Getty Images
Even though the Super 15 final doesn’t showcase a South African team this season, Jake White gives a bit of local flavour to the occasion for the showdown between the Chiefs and Brumbies in Hamilton tomorrow.
The former Springbok coach has done wonders by steering the Brumbies to their first final since 2004, less than two years since taking over the reins after a season in which the Brumbies languished in 13th.
White has proven his worth as a coach, but he still has many detractors who refuse to give him his due.
Now that he has improved the Brumbies from 13th to seventh to third in two seasons, and taken them to their first final in nine years – which included defeating the Bulls at Loftus in the semifinals – White has endured criticism that his assistant coaches have been behind the success.
White is always quick to acknowledge the input of forwards coach Laurie Fisher and backline coach Stephen Larkham, but it is White who has shaped the organisation, given it direction and mapped out a blueprint of playing style.
If the Brumbies topple the Chiefs tomorrow they will end a remarkable sequence in which a New Zealand team has not lost a home play-off match (wild card, semi and final) in 14 years.
Beating the Chiefs on their home ground, though, would arguably be the greatest achievement of White’s coaching career. – Sport Live
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