Former Springboks coach Jake White suggests All Blacks No. 12 jersey for Ma’a Nonu - Rugby News
The former coach of the Springboks, Jake White, who led the South Africans to winning the Webb Ellis Trophy in 2007, has suggested the All Blacks’ 12 number jersey for veteran Ma’a Nonu. Jake White preferred Nonu over the upcoming star, Sonny Bill Williams
and recommended that the youngster should be given a bench role in the forthcoming Rugby World Cup 2011. He expressed his thoughts regarding SBW and the All Blacks side on July 27.
However, White admired Sonny Bill Williams for his unique style and said that the star has put some extra energy in to the All Blacks team. He also said that during the last three World Cups the new Zealanders have been exploited for their poor midfield
combinations and that is what they should be careful of during RWC 2011.
White quoted the example of Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith and said that the pair is a time tested combination for the All Blacks and has produced remarkable performances for their team in the past. He also stated that scrumhalf and fly-half area will also be
very important for them in the largest event of rugby of this year.
Proposing other solution for New Zealand Rugby Union, White said that, “They tried fullbacks like Christian Cullen and Leon MacDonald at No 13 in previous World Cups and they've seen how that didn't work. Nonu and Conrad Smith are tried and tested and a
combination they've built for four years, they wouldn't want to start changing things now.”
The veteran coach also pin-pointed the Achilles heel of the All Blacks and said that, “One thing New Zealand has learnt from the three previous World Cups is that centre partnerships are vital, and they're built up over time. The most important aspect for
me is changing the scrumhalf and flyhalf constantly.”
Jake White’s recommendations have come after the All Blacks coach, Graham Henry, told the media that he is facing huge difficulties in selecting final 15 for the Rugby World Cup because of the number of good players for the same position. New Zealand is
left with four matches to test the various options before RWC 2011.
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