Springboks coach returns from dead

A week is a long time in politics - and in the life of a rugby coach. Just ask Jake White.

In the past seven days, White had faced renewed calls for his sacking as Springbok coach and had an anonymous South African Rugby Union board member publicly say his days were numbered with two more losses as he tried to halt a five-match losing streak.

That included a 49-0 hiding from the Wallabies and a 45-26 loss to the All Blacks a week ago.

"This will keep them quiet for probably a week," White said yesterday after his team's win in Rustenberg.

"It's a tough job but I knew it was going to turn, and what greater way for it to turn [than] against the best team in the world."

White, who took over after the World Cup in 2003, can point to an unmatched record against the All Blacks with victories in each of the past three years.

"People won't realise how big a win it is.

"There was a lot of talk about this being their best team, so to get a win, especially where we were a couple of weeks ago, is probably one of the biggest wins we've had since I've been coach."

- NZPA