Fiji head coach Jake White’s former colleagues at Loftus Versfeld believe the South Pacific national team have put the right man in charge.
The 62-year-old White was named on Tuesday from 31 applicants, replacing interim coach Senirusi Seruvakula. He was the Bulls’ director of rugby from 2020 to 2025.
Chris Rossouw, White’s former backline coach at the Bulls, CEO Edgar Rathbone and Blue Bulls Rugby Union president Willem Strauss were quoted by Rapport about his appointment.
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“I saw up close how Jake made a group of players believe they could do something special,” said Rossouw.
“This is his greatest gift. He is going to put clear structures in place at Fiji, and together with the conviction he gives, it is going to bring their talent to the highest level.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re going to surprise people. I’m happy for him.”
“Jake’s greatest strengths are getting high-performance structures in place, good discipline and a clear identity about how his teams should play,” Rathbone added.
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Strauss said White can make an immediate difference with the World Cup in Australia only a year away.
“I think Fiji needs its South African discipline,” he said. “Everywhere he’s been, including the Bulls, he’s left a team in a better place than he found it. He is an excellent hire for them.”
White inherits a team ranked 10th in the world that has lost four of five Tests this year. His first match is against Japan on 24 October, followed by Nations Championship games against France, Ireland and Italy in November.
Fiji are in Pool C at the 2027 World Cup with Argentina, Canada and Spain. Before that, the Fijians face the Springboks in a warm-up Test in Gosford on 18 September.
Photo: Fiji Rugby/Facebook
The post Jake’s Fiji ‘going to surprise people’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Fiji head coach Jake White’s former colleagues at Loftus Versfeld believe the South Pacific national team have put the right man in charge.
The post Jake’s Fiji ‘going to surprise people’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
