Former Australia coach Eddie Jones has hailed Jake White to be the next man at the Wallabies' helm.
Jones wrote in his News Ltd column on Saturday that the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) could not re-signRobbie Deans once the New Zealander's contract expired at the end of 2013 because the Kiwi "has had six seasons as Wallabies coach for a winning record of less than 20 per cent against the All Blacks, the barometer for all Australians".
Jones suggested the contest to succeed Deans was a race in two between Brumbies coach White and outgoing Queensland Reds director of coaching Ewen McKenzie, writing in his column that "the next Wallabies coach has to meet that important criteria of success against the All Blacks". McKenzie enjoyed success against New Zealand both as a player and an assistant to Wallabies coach Rod Macqueen, while White enjoyed victories in charge of the Springboks.
McKenzie announced recently that he will leave the Reds at the end of the Super Rugby, and he has made no bones about his ambition to coach the Wallabies. He denies his decision to leave the Reds was announced to pressure the ARU with regard to the Wallabies position, but Jones believes the coach "has raised his hand and said he will apply".
Jones believes, however, that White must take the Wallabies to the 2015 IRB Rugby World Cup, with McKenzie to succeed the South African in charge of the campaign for the 2019 tournament.
Jones, who coached the Wallabies to the 2003 IRB Rugby World Cup final, which they lost to England in extra-time, and whom White appointed as a technical adviser for South Africa's winning campaign in France four years later, wrote in his column that "the big question as to who coaches the Wallabies after Deans is straightforward".
"For the two-year countdown to the 2015 World Cup in England, White is the man. He is disciplined, focused and has the desire. Like Ewen, I know Jake has the aspiration of coaching the Wallabies. McKenzie is the man for the 2019 edition. He is a planner and is patient. Ewen is 47 so there is plenty of time for him to coach a Test side abroad and come back into the Australian system to guide the Wallabies." ESPN Scrum
