Scotty Stevenson: Sharks man at home with big fish

Jake White says until the rules are enforced differently, kick-and-stick tactics are here to stay.

Ambition a handy thing for director of rugby Jake White who has endured his share of put-downs.

He left Australia in a bit of a hurry, old Jake White. Or is that young Jake White? He doesn't talk about his age. His hairline is a little more forthcoming on this matter, however. It can't keep a secret. Let's just call him middle-aged Jake White, ever-expanding forehead and all, and be done with that for now.

Middle-aged Jake White is sitting in a dim and dull hotel conference room. There is nothing to gild the walls, no windows to let in the light. This is a room with all the personality of a block of Edam cheese, interior design by Beige & Grey, inspired by a loaf of white bread. Still, he's cheerful enough - history-making deeds will do that for a man's mood.

He said last week that records were made to be broken, or that history was there to be made, or that broken records were history, or some combination of the three. Regardless of how he phrased it, he seemed awfully confident at the time. But that's middle-aged Jake White for you - he would have a swagger if he were taller, a strut if he were thinner, or a stride if he were longer. As it is, he shuffles about like a Weeble. He always pops up, despite a career punctuated by put-downs.

He was put down plenty as coach of the Springboks - for picking John Smit, for not picking Luke Watson, for not doing enough for transformation.

He won the World Cup, of course. And promptly quit the post. He came to the Brumbies and promptly coached them to the Super Rugby final. And promptly quit the post. He was prompt for this interview too. He's certainly punctual.

Punctuality only gets you so far, though. Ambition carries you the rest of the way. It's the cargo ship on an ocean of mediocrity plagued by pirates. Ambition upsets people for some reason, and you can see why Jake White upsets people. School masters are always upsetting people, especially school masters who become rugby coaches. Sir Graham Henry's always upsetting someone. I doubt Jake White intentionally upsets anyone. Middle-aged Jake White prefers to steam through calmer waters, anyway - waters where he knows all the big fish. Shark-infested waters.

He has John Smit on his side - the captain he stuck with who is now his boss at the Sharks. He says he would hate to think it's a friendship built on debt, though it must be handy to know you've got the gratitude card poking out of your sleeve like a pair of aces at a high-stakes game. White and Smit make quite a combo; neither will be putting the Super rugby trophy on the very top shelf, for example.

He laughs at the term "Jake Ball", coined to describe the execrable spectacle that passes for the current kick-and-stick game plans that may well take you as far as the playoffs, but might not carry you all the way. I suspect he's quite chuffed, really. I mean, let's face it, no one's talking about "Kirwan Ball", for instance.

"You can only coach to the way the laws are interpreted," he says, though it's not intended as an apology.

"Until we allow the game to take another shape, and until we reward teams that hold on to the ball and play with width and get the calls for being brave and wanting to play, coaches will find ways to put pressure on opposing teams inside their own half."

Of course, there are far more conservative teams than the Sharks - the Brumbies, aided and abetted by the weather, took Jake Ball to new heights two weeks ago. So tedious was the game plan that by halftime the only spectators still watching would probably have considered water boarding, or perhaps Pauly Shore reading aloud The Luminaries, less torturous alternatives. Then there are the Crusaders to consider. In essence, last Saturday's effort was a performance worthy of Santa Claus, not because all their Christmases had come at once but because even though the front door was wide open, they insisted on trying to come down the chimney.

Whatever, though, Jake Ball is winning ball - when it's done right. And winning is what's really important here. Winning, and coaching to the laws, and being punctual. Or perhaps being patient.

Middle-aged Jake White wants more than a title for the Sharks. He wants a legacy. Perhaps his ambition will carry him all the way back to that Springbok blazer, too. Maybe one day, when his hair has made its full retreat, and he's not so concerned with his age.

In any case, he's not in a hurry.

Blues welcome Bowden

Dan Bowden is set for a return to Super Rugby in 2015 after signing with the Blues. The former Highlander and Crusader has finished up with Leicester and will return to New Zealand in the new year via a short stint in Japan. Bowden was considered an out-and-out second-five in the UK, and turned in some impressive performances. So does this mean the Blues will stick with Simon Hickey and Ihaia West at 10? And does this mean the stage is set for Ma'a Nonu to return to the Canes?

Suspended disbelief

There has been plenty of chat this week regarding the rulings handed out by the judiciary to Jean Deysel and Ed O'Donoghue. Deysel was given three weeks for a stomp and O'Donoghue was cleared and had his red card for foul play expunged. Judicial officers' rulings should be respected but consider this: Deysel got three weeks for stomping on a bloke's face. Michael Cheika got six months (suspended) for swearing at a cameraman.

Brumbies under threat

The Brumbies have become rather adept at erasing their own play-off dreams with a late season fade, and this season could be no different. After leading the Australian conference all season, they are now the most under threat in the top three, with both the Waratahs and Force nipping at their heels with a game in hand. Put it this way, the Brumbies can finish with maximum 55 points - one less than the Force and four less than the Waratahs. The Brumbies have to face them both.