White defends Marutlulle's demotion

Marutlulle was given the reigns of the seniors at the start of the competition, but after four games the 35-year-old former hooker has been sent back to the junior structures, while White takes control of all the seniors immediately. 

The demotion of Marutlulle has been widely criticised, but White defended the decision, saying it is not only in the best interests of the Bulls but also an attempt to shield the young coach from the pressures that come with the burden of Bulls culture.

"When I chatted to him, I think he was relieved that the pressure is actually building. We know what the supporters are like in Pretoria, we know what our Bulls supporters are like,"

"I didn't think it was fair to expose him week after week in an environment that I know is going to need some extra attention to turn it around.

"If we don't do anything and the guy has a nervous breakdown, or if the guy doesn't handle the pressure, or if the guy doesn't take it well and gets personal attacks, then people [will] ask me, 'Well, why didn't you come in and help the guy?'

"I'm going to reinforce what I said to you, I put him there, I gave him an opportunity, I was the one that said, 'Listen, I'm going to look after you and make sure that you have coaches around you that will make you feel comfortable in that environment because it's a very tough environment.'"

White acknowledges there was always the possibility the position would be too much for Marutlulle and, while he is aware of the optics of firing black coaches in a country like South Africa, he insists this is the nature of the game.

"I can tell you that Edgar, himself, would have said to you, knowing all, 'Coach, I'd like to have a crack.' And there's nothing wrong with that," White added.

"He wouldn't have gone in [to the job] with his eyes closed, and I respect that. It's easier in hindsight to say, 'Did you not expect that?' Of course, I expected that and, of course, that's part of the nature of [rugby]... It's what we all have to endure in coaching.

"You could end up not lasting a results-driven business, and I don't think, whether I foresee it or not, I just don't think that in my position I'm in, that I want to put Edgar in that position now. I think it's tough enough, even for a guy like me who's coached for 40 years."