White turns attention to vacant Australian job

Jake White has contacted the Australian Rugby Union to join the list of the candidates for the vacant post as the Wallabies coach. News of his interest only 24 hours after confirming that his tenure with South Africa was over will alert Twickenham as the English RFU prepares to review the World Cup campaign under coach Brian Ashton.

The ARU's high-performance manager, Pat Howard, the former Leicester head coach, confirmed the agent, Craig Livingstone, contacted him on White's behalf. White is expected to give a press conference in South Africa today. The South Africa Rugby Union meets in the next two days with a new coach on its agenda.

White has also been linked to the Wales coaching job, vacant since Gareth Jenkins was sacked after the World Cup defeat by Fiji.

"I interviewed Jake White a year ago for the Leicester head coaching position and I appreciate he will have a lot of decisions to make," said Howard.

"I am more in the wait-and-see mentality at the moment. We've got a lot of good candidates that we are considering and I can only move forward on the guys we've got."

That list of candidates includes the Canterbury Crusaders' coach Robbie Deans, the Auckland Blues' coach David Nucifora, Wallabies' assistant coaches John Muggleton and Scott Johnson, the New South Wales Waratahs' coach Ewen McKenzie and the Brumbies' mentor Laurie Fisher.

Last week ARU chief executive, John O'Neill, said if White applied the ARU would "certainly consider his application". The ARU is to conduct formal interviews on Friday week.

Meanwhile, New Zealand scrumhalf Byron Kelleher has equated playing for the All Blacks with his new club Toulouse in terms of style. The 30-year-old made his debut for Toulouse in the 15-10 win over Dax at the weekend. "The way of playing here is like that of the All Blacks. It is the same terms, the same desire to keep the ball alive or to try and run with the ball."

Kelleher, who is one of several Southern Hemisphere stars to have signed for French clubs including World Cup-winning Springbok captain John Smit and lock Victor Matfield, said there should be no problem with him playing at scrumhalf and France number-nine Jean-Baptiste Elissalde playing at outhalf.

Italy will continue to play next year's home Six Nations matches at Rome's Stadio Flaminio despite rebuilding work, the Italian Rugby Federation said yesterday. The possibility of the games being played elsewhere was raised at the weekend after Federation president Giancarlo Dondi said he was concerned that reconstruction had been delayed.

Jacques Rogge has warned that rugby sevens faces "an uphill battle" to be included at future Olympic Games.

The IOC president, a former rugby union player for his native Belgium, said the 15-a-side format has no chance of Olympics status, while sevens faces stiff competition from other sports.

A mixed teenage tag rugby fun World Cup will take place in Lakelands, home of Terenure College tomorrow (10am-4pm). There are two categories, 13-15 years and 16-18 years and the cost is €15 per player with the proceeds going to the ISPCC. It's important participants arrive early in time for registration. The IRFU is supporting the venture, the brainchild of Gráinne Leach, and will provide referees and all the necessary equipment.