Winning Ways specialists consultants work with existing club or provincial coaching staff, with Jake White involved in a hands-on coaching capacity and fulfilling the role of a consulting director of rugby.
Specialists used include the core of the Springbok World Cup-winning management including Jake White, specialist coach and strategist Eddie Jones, conditioning expert Dr Derik Coetzee, Scrumming specialist Balie Swart, Visuals specialist Dr Sherylle Calder, Technical specialist Willie Maree, Sports psychologist Henning Gericke.
Where applicable, Communications and Publishing specialists Highbury Safika Media assess the club or provincial Communication programmes and strategy, with proposed amendments and guidance.
News:
Thursday, September 03, 2009
White thrilled at IRB appointment
Cape Town – World Cup winning Springbok coach Jake White says it is an honour to serve on the International Rugby Board Rugby Committee, adding that his involvement with the Lions current Currie Cup campaign has ensured that he remains at the forefront of developments in the game.
White, who has not coached full-time since the end of 2007, this year started his Jake White Winning Ways company, with its primary business focus being the coaching of coaches and consulting to teams.
‘The appointment complements what I am currently doing in my business, which is developing the intellectual capital of coaches. The consultancy with the Lions has also allowed me to keep in touch with developments on the field, all of which has allowed me to accept the IRB invitation without reservation,’ said White in a statement.
White will serve on the Rugby Committee for the next two years; with former All Blacks captain Graham Mourie chairing the committee.
‘Outside of coaching the Springboks it ranks as the highest honour afforded me and the IRB has my total commitment,’ said White.
The Rugby Committee’s
responsibilities include:
* Determining the criteria for international matches
* Determining the international matches and tours schedule and playing structure
* Debating player welfare issues at high performance level and propose IRB policies in this area
* Liaising as necessary with other stakeholders within the Game
* Determining the International Tours Agreement
* Dealing with other relevant matters which may be referred to it by the Council or the Executive Committee
‘It is a massive responsibility and I take the appointment seriously,’ said White. ‘I am flattered by the IRB’s recognition and it adds to South Africa’s standing in the game. We have a Springbok team ranked one in the World, a Sevens team who are champions of the world, some of the best players in the world, the best junior teams and in Jonathan Kaplan the best referee in the world. We have quality world-class South African coaches in and out of South Africa, and the recognition of the IRB is a statement that we are doing something right in South Africa.’
White, whose position is
effective from the start of September, will meet with the committee for the
first time in Dublin in October.
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Issued by Jake White’s Winning Way
For all media enquiries, contact Kara Ross
T +27 21 416 141
E kara@jakewhiteswinningway.co.za
Monday, August 24, 2009
GOLDEN LIONS PRESS STATEMENT
Golden Lions roaring to go
Johannesburg - Golden Lions CEO Manie Reyneke emphasized the need for the union to embrace the challenge of the future instead of getting stuck on the Super 14 failings of the last three seasons.
Reyneke, who initiated the rugby audit conducted by Jake White and Eddie Jones, on behalf of Jake White’s Winning Way Pty Ltd, said the audit had shown the need for change in coaching staff and highlighted the urgency in finding solutions.
The Golden Lions Rugby Union asked Eugene Eloff as head coach to stand down within days of White’s audit and Reyneke said he was comfortable with the decision, in light of discussions held with Eloff, the players and White.
'The audit confirmed the worst. Jake and his company have made recommendations that we have accepted. Jake and Eddie (Jones) are two of the finest rugby coaches and thinkers in the world and they will provide the skills set needed to put Lions rugby back at the top,’ said Reyneke. ‘The message to our rugby public is that there is change. We have professionally dealt with the rugby issues of the last three years and we have acted calmly but with the necessary urgency.
‘Eugene Eloff had a three-year plan but there was not delivery on the plan and in any business an individual is judged on delivery. Hans Coetzee will take on the role of head coach in the Currie Cup and a decision on who will coach the Super 14 team will be taken in the course of the Currie Cup.’
Reyneke confirmed White’s company consultancy will start on July 1, although he was pleased that White and Jones had already worked with the squad in the last week.
‘Jake has had several meetings with Hans and both he and Eddie spent time with the team this week. Jake will meet with the union’s coaches of all levels on Saturday morning to detail the plans for the next four months.’
Acting President Neville Jardine said the Board had made an informed decision and that there had been no knee-jerk reaction to the Lions’ poor Super 14 season.
‘Jake and his company’s involvement goes beyond the professional team. It is about getting our rugby strong again as a province and making sure that the structures at all the levels are consistent with what is happening at the highest level.’
(Hans) Coetzee and Currie Cup captain Cobus Grobbelaar were convinced a change in fortune was possible and both embraced the input of White and his company.
Issued by the Golden Lions Rugby Union
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Issued by Jake White’s Winning Way
For all media enquiries, contact Krystle Geach
T +27 11 402 2960
M +27 84 507 4571
E krystleg@glru.co.za
Monday, August 24, 2009
JAKE WHITE PRESS STATEMENT
Jake White Winning Way Pty Ltd audit and way forward for Golden Lions
Comments by Jake White, speaking on behalf of Jake White’s Winning Way Pty Ltd
Having reviewed the tapes of the Super rugby matches, we found the style of play to lack cohesion, structure, shape and effectiveness to win the tournament or even challenge for the play-offs. The Lions defence was the worst in the competition and no team can be successful if defence is not a priority.
No team can be competitive if the players are not well conditioned and the results of the conditioning tests are evidence of why the Lions struggled in the Super 14.
Dr Derik Coetzee, our company’s conditioning specialist, reviewed the results of the tests and they were disgraceful.
The players must take responsibility but ultimately all responsibility is with the head coach, who has to oversee that his players are conditioned. This clearly was not done.
Dr Coetzee, who headed the Springboks’ 2007 World Cup conditioning campaign, compared each player and each player grouping to norm of the norm of the Springbok squad that won the World Cup,
The reason I asked for that comparison was because the core of that side plays for the Bulls and Sharks in the Super 14 and the Lions players have to be at the same levels of conditioning if they are to be title contenders in 2010.
The board was presented with the findings.
Of the 41 players tested in the last week, not one met the norm in all seven disciplines. Hans Coetzee, the interim head coach and I met with the players, and it has been made clear what is expected of them if they are to be successful as professional players.
Again I have to stress that every player needs guidance and a coach who has to be a watchdog.
The position specific grouping results of the five primary conditioning tests (of the seven) were as follows:
Props:
Fat %: Norm 12%, Lions 19.8%
Repeat Sprint: Norm 720, Lions 638
3 km run: Norm 12.45, Lions 16.62
10 m run: Norm 1.8, lions 1.95
Bench Kg/Body Mass: Norm 1.3, Lions 1,1.
Hookers:
Fat %: Norm 11%, Lions 16,25%
Repeat Sprint: Norm 750, Lions 647
3 km run: Norm 12.00, Lions 14.8
10 m run: Norm 1.75, Lions 1.84
Bench Kg/Body Mass: Norm 1.3, Lions 1,3.
Locks:
Fat %: Norm 12%, Lions 15,72%
Repeat Sprint: Norm 750, Lions 630
3 km run: Norm 12.15, Lions 14.10
10 m run: Norm 1.75, Lions 1.92
Bench Kg/Body Mass: Norm 1.3, Lions 1,075.
Loose forwards
Fat %: Norm 10%, Lions 12%
Repeat Sprint: Norm 760, Lions 687
3 km run: Norm 11.45, Lions 13.10
10 m run: Norm 1.75, Lions 1.82
Bench Kg/Body Mass: Norm 1.5, Lions 1,3.
Inside backs
Fat %: Norm 9%, Lions 13,5%
Repeat Sprint: Norm 780, Lions 680
3 km run: Norm 11.15, Lions 13.86
10 m run: Norm 1.65, Lions 1.75
Bench Kg/Body Mass: Norm 1.5, Lions 1,3.
Outside backs
Fat %: Norm 9%, Lions 12,2%
Repeat Sprint: Norm 780, Lions 702
3 km run: Norm 11.15, Lions 13.8
10 m run: Norm 1.65, Lions 1.75
40 m sprint: Norm: 5.1. Lions 5
Bench Kg/Body Mass: Norm 1.5, Lions 1,3.
Eddie Jones, my business partner, and I also completed an audit on the strengths and weaknesses of each player and made recommendations to the board.
There is no doubt the squad needs strengthening with reference to the Super 14, but a player must have a reason to be lured to a union, and that will be the challenge of the Golden Lions Rugby Union and Jake White’s Winning Ways in the next four months.
We can only have an influence on what happens now and to labour the last three years serves no purpose, as that can’t be changed.
It was our recommendation to entrust Hans with the Currie Cup head coaching duties under the guidance of the Jake White Winning Way. We will make use of existing management resource, while also introducing specialist company consultants in specific areas of the game.
The consultants are there to improve the existing staff and not to compete with them for permanent jobs.
The Golden Lions Board will also make ongoing assessments of our company’s influence over the next four months to determine whether we can add further value in the 2010 Super 14.
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Issued by Jake White’s Winning Way
For all media enquiries, contact Kara Ross
T +27 21 416 141
M +27 71 682 6377
E kara@jakewhiteswinningway.co.za