Jake looking to recapture Bulls' glory days

Former Springbok coach Jake White’s first task in his new job as Director of Rugby at the Vodacom Bulls will be to start rebuilding the rugby empire that used to be so dominant at Loftus Versfeld.

White believes he can rebuild the Bulls team into the formidable force that aided him to win a Rugby World Cup and which won three Vodacom Super Rugby championships a decade ago.

“I do, that is why I’ve taken the job. My experience has taught me this, there is more talent in this country than there is in any other country. We are the envy of every other rugby playing nation. There is more talent in Pretoria than there is in almost the entire Australia, once you consider the player base we have,” White says.

“When you understand that and have lived overseas, you appreciate that. You just have to make sure those things are aligned and work in your favour and then you can get back to those glory days.

“I genuinely believe if we work well with the talent we have in South Africa and we are smart about it, we can create those glory days again.”

White has admitted that he will be relying heavily on the talented juniors in the Bulls ranks to start the rebuilding process, and with the union already being under-19 and under-21 national champions, he has a lot of young talent to work with.

The key will now be to surround them with senior players to help them develop into a potent force at international level.

“Lets be honest and say the one thing the Bulls have done, even though they haven’t achieved at senior level as they would have wanted to for the past few years, is to keep that incredible junior system together,” he explained.

“I’m not saying they have always won, but whenever junior teams have played, they’ve held their own dominated in the last 10 to 15 years. The junior talent is exceptional. I’ve seen some of the footage of those youngsters and it is incredible.

“But the challenge now is to surround them with senior players and with players who will make them better. That is the challenge we have in recruiting, is to get those senior players. Sometimes you take those senior players because they are senior and they are not necessarily the type of players who will compliment the system. Hopefully that is the level of skills and expertise that I will be able to bring to the Bulls quicker rather than later.”

White said he will be looking to add some players to the Bulls ranks and has the full support of the Bulls Board of directors.

“Obviously the Coronavirus has put us back a bit because there is no income. But the one nice thing is that we have the backing of our shareholders in Remgro and Patrice Motsepe. I’m sure we are in a much better position than other franchises.

“Of course, in my meetings they are fully aware that in order to get success things will have to change. That in itself is pleasing for a coach. When you get into a board meeting and they feel the same sort of needs that you have and they understand them and they are willing to support you.”

White will start in the position when rugby returns to action after the break.