Jake White: 'Varsity Cup a winner!'
He's coached South Africa to World Cup glory at Under-21 and senior level, so when Jake White speaks you listen. And when he says the Varsity Cup has a place in South African rugby, you listen even more carefully.
Last year's FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International captured the imagination of the South African rugby public, but the 2009 tournament is set to trump last year's event, given the involvement of the likes of Jake White, Bob Skinstad and Rudy Joubert as coaches.
Joubert, a former Springbok assistant coach, has taken over at Pukke - as head coach - from new Western Province employee Matthew Proudfoot, whilst White and Skinstad have been added to UCT head coach John Dobson's already high-profile coaching staff.
Dobson and backline coach Robbie Fleck were in charge of the exciting Ikeys side from last year, but the addition of White and Skinstad as technical advisors, along with the continued presence of Professor Tim Noakes (strategist), Selborne Boome (line-out coach), Paul Day (scrum coach) and Gareth Wright (kicking coach) gives the Cape Town-based team a decidedly cosmopolitan look.
"I'm here to add value to the UCT coaching staff," White told www.varsitycup.co.za in a break from pre-season training at UCT. "This UCT side did well in 2008, but hopefully myself, Prof Noakes and someone like (visual coach) Sherylle Calder can add more value to this team and help them repeat their success of last year."
As one of Dobson's technical advisors, White's role at UCT is a potentially wide-ranging one, but the former Springbok coach is ostensibly in charge of the Ikeys' defence.
"I started out as a club coach," said White, "and this game has been pretty good to me, so it's great to be back where it all started and hopefully I can help the likes of Dobbo and Fleckie become better coaches in the process. I've known Fleckie for a long time and it's been great, in particular, to see his development as a coach.
"The best thing for me, however, is that all these people involved at the club are doing it out of their own, in their own time and for no reward - it's great to see that in this day and age."
When pressed on his exact role at the club in 2009, White replied: "I'll be helping out once a week, in between my commitments at Saracens, who, of course, will be out in Cape Town next week, so that will tie in nicely for me.
"I've been able to pick up some new things at Saracens and Toulon during my stints there," continued White, "and hopefully I can implement some fresh ideas at UCT whenever I'm up here helping out."
Looking ahead to the 2009 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International, White simply pointed to the success of last year's tournament.
"It's an unbelievable competition," enthused White, who won two Under-21 titles with the 'Baby Boks' (in 1999 and 2002), before masterminding SA's 2007 RWC triumph in France.
"Credit must go to the sponsors, FNB and Steinhoff International, they're giving some talented, young rugby players a great opportunity to make a name for themselves and, at the same time, it creates yet another strong tier in South African rugby.
"A guy like (former UCT wing) Mat Turner is a prime example of what the Varsity Cup can do for players. He would never be playing professional rugby in England were it not for the Varsity Cup."
The 2009 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International gets underway on Monday, February 2, with two double headers taking place - in Cape Town and Potchefstroom.
UCT's Groote Schuur fields will host Shimlas v NMMU (kick-off at 2.45pm) and the Ikeys against Maties (4.45pm), with the Fanie du Toit Sports Grounds in Potch playing host to two matches; UJ v TUT (4.45pm) and Pukke against Tuks at 6.45pm.
Visit www.varsitycup.co.za on Monday, January 19 to find out more about the '09 Varsity Cup and for a full list of fixtures!