Rugby Union-Who will replace Eddie O'Sullivan as Irish head coach?

Jake White
The IRFU may target Jake White the former South African Rugby coach who led the Springboks to World Cup victory in 2007 -against the odds.
However it is well known that White covets the English job. Much will depend on the English RFU’s decision in relation to head coach Brian Ashton. White has in the past been contemptuous of Irish rugby teams. This may be a pointer.

John Mitchell
The New Zealander has played club rugby in Ireland and France. He has served as England’s assistant coach and as New Zealand national coach. He currently leads the Australian Super 14 side the Western Force.

Eddie Jones.
The Australian successfully led the ACT Brumbies. He took Australia to the 2003 World Cup final. He has served as head coach to the Queensland Reds. He served as technical adviser to South Africa for the World Cup in France.

John Connolly
He is former head coach of Australia . Connolly has worked with Queensland Reds, Stade Francais and Bath.

Pat Howard
Played for Queensland Reds, ACT Brumbies and Leicester Tigers. He is ex-head coach at Leicester . He played at centre and fly-half for the Wallabies. He has stepped down as general manager of the Australian Rugby Union's high performance unit. Would be a strong candidate. Has business commitments.


Declan Kidney
Has a strong track record with Munster. He coached them to their 2006 Heineken Cup victory. He also served as coach with Leinster but had difficult relations with some players. This may damage his prospects.

Alan Gaffney
The Australian has joined Leinster. He guided Saracens to fourth-place in the Guinness Premiership. His involvement with Saracens continues for another year. He is an outstanding backs coach. He also has experience with Munster.

Michael Cheika
The former Wallaby under-21s international led Leinster to the Heineken Cup semi-final in 2006. Probably a long shot.

Matt Williams
Williams is an outstanding coach. He has been unfairly criticized for his record with Scotland. Scotland lacked the talent to make an impact. He has also served successfully as Leinster boss. He has just taken over as Ulster coach. The influence of his coaching technique is already apparent.

Rugby Union-Jake White may be the next English coach

According to Stuff.co.nz World Cup-winning Springboks coach Jake White has started some astute lobbying for the international job he covets the most – the No 1 role with England................
Jake White has not reapplied for the position of coach of South Africa. Great credit is due to White who overcame a tempestuous relationship with the SARU to guide South Africa to victory in the World Cup. South Africa was successful in spite of the SARU.

South African rugby may be about to go into sharp decline. Political interference and attempts to impose racial quotas are the straw which may break the camels back.
We will now have a form of reverse discrimination against white players as politicians insist on a fixed quota of coloured players irrespective of ability. This is a recipe for stagnation and mediocrity. Some ANC leaders probably wish to destroy Rugby Union-a form of retribution for its former links to apartheid. These individuals live in cloud cuckoo land and are blinded by ideology and hatred. Perhaps they would like to drive out all whites and create a second Zimbabwe. South Africa needs white capital to develop the economy.

It is to Jake Whites credit that he stood up to political interference. The next coach will be more amenable to the wishes of politicians and may drive South African rugby over the cliff. A flood of the best white talent will head North driven out by racial hatred and the lure of a stable Sterling.
The portents are not good.

South Africa wins Rugby World Cup Final

In a dour but compelling contest South Africa defeated England. There was an awesome display of forward power on both sides. The game featured much high kicking also. The Springboks line out was superb. Nevertheless South Africa failed to score a try. Ferocious tackling by England kept them out.

Mark Cueto crossed the line for England but television match official — Australian Stuart Dickinson- decided that Cueto's knee grazed the touchline as he dived over.

Best for South Africa were: Victor Matfield, Percy Montgomery, Francois Steyn, Butch James, John Smit and Bakkies Botha . Os du Randt at 36 years deserves special mention. He is probably finest loose head prop of all time.

English players to a man gave it their best shot and lost no caste in defeat. All in all a fantastic effort by the Red Rose.

Springboks coach Jake White may now coach either Australia or New Zealand.