Jake White on whether he would return to Bok coaching job

Last weekend, SA Rugby confirmed that current Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber will step down from his position after the global showpiece to join Leinster where he will replace Stuart Lancaster as the Irish province's senior coach.

That has led to plenty of speculation with the Springboks' assistant coaches, Mzwandile Stick and Deon Davids, among the favourites to replace Nienaber while Stormers head coach John Dobson and White's names have also been mentioned as potential successors.

White is no stranger to the job as he served as South Africa's head coach from 2004 to 2007 and guided the Boks to a World Cup triumph in France in his last year in charge of the team.

But the 59-year-old, who also had stints in charge of the Brumbies, Sharks, Montpellier and Toyota Verblitz in Japan, has poured cold water on links to the Bok job and said he is committed to his role with the Bulls.

"My name doesn't crop up. I've been reading enough articles to see that my name is not on the list and that's maybe a good thing," said White.

"Sometimes it's spooky when your name is on that list because you generally don't get it.

"I'm signed here (at the Bulls) until 2027. I coach a lot of players who I think should be international players and who will become internationals.

"I work for an incredible organisation. I have a great relationship with my board, with Patrice Motsepe and Johann Rupert.

"I wouldn't do anything without ever speaking to them about it. If they felt it was in the best interests of South African rugby that I would be involved in the national setup, I would only do it with their blessing.

"As you've seen, unless you get in there and they want you, there is no use being forced in. Secondly, you've got to get what you think is important for you to run the organisation when it comes to rugby.

"You always want to coach internationally and I'm a South African. But, at the same time, all those things have to be in place and I can't answer that because I'm busy coaching a provincial team."

White said Nienaber's decision to join Leinster was an irresistible offer that would be difficult to turn down.

"I can't talk on Jacques' behalf, but they're an incredible club," he added.

"Lots of good coaches have gone there and move on to become even better. Look what Stuart Lancaster has done post England.

"It's fantastic that a club like that [can attract those coaches]. It's a club that everyone is trying to emulate. Yes, we have the Crusaders in the southern hemisphere and they are an incredible club in their own right.

"But if you look at the Heineken Cup and the kind of players they produce and internationals they have, Leinster's bad year is sometimes as good as some teams' good years."