'When I was with the Boks, I was approached to put my name in for Rob Andrew's job. Then they contacted me before appointing Martin Johnson and Stuart Lancaster.
'All three times, they've gone for English people. Generally it's used as a means to make the other candidates look like they have a bit of credence.'
Japan coach Eddie Jones has also emerged as a front-runner after revealing in yesterday's Sportsmail that he would enter discussions if approached.
Like Jones, White has big Test nous which he believes is crucial. 'Since 2003, England have been going backwards,' said White. 'They made the final in 2007 but it was a shambles. In 2011 they got knocked out early and in 2015 they got knocked out even earlier.
'For a big rugby nation like England to be eighth in the world isn't right.
'International rugby shouldn't be a learning curve for coaches. It's a business now. The last three World Cups must send a message: if you go for a coach who's never coached international rugby, it's going to be same old, same old.
'They've tried it with Andy Robinson, Martin Johnson and Stuart Lancaster. They have one of the biggest budgets in the world but their coaches only have a few years' experience.'