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Jake to restore Brumbies

Sydney - Jake White wants to restore the ''Brumbies rugby aura'' and reintroduce an unpredictable, attacking style when he takes over as Brumbies coach next year.

And the South African has Wallabies star James O'Connor at the top of his shopping list.

Brumbies chief executive Andrew Fagan announced on Wednesday that White would replace Tony Rea at the end of the Super Rugby season. His appointment ends two months of uncertainty after Rea was named caretaker coach following Andy Friend's axing after only two games.

White has been given four years to build his team and end the Brumbies' Super Rugby finals drought. But with his resume already bulging with impressive achievements, White will not settle for mediocrity; he will seek immediate success.

''The last thing people want to hear is me saying, 'Give me four years and judge me then','' White said. ''I think the quicker we get things right, the better.

''I'm not taking a cop-out and saying give me four years to build a team. We've got to win as quickly as we can, we've got to work together to get it right and, hopefully, we are in the play-offs next year … maybe the semis and the final.

''If you don't dream, you won't get there, and the quicker we can get our recruiting and systems in place, the quicker everyone buys into the way we want to go and the quicker we can achieve.''

White could take the reins at the Brumbies as early as August, with the club trying to arrange a three-game, post-season tour of Japan or Europe. The former Springboks coach has already moved to start adding players to the roster for next season. He has spoken to O'Connor twice about a possible move to Canberra next year.

But until White moves to the capital in July, he will observe from a distance before deciding what changes he needs to make.

White beat Rea and two other hopefuls for the Brumbies job. Fagan said it was White's enthusiasm and record that set him apart.

''It is a massive signing for the organisation, a real coup,'' Fagan said. ''His record speaks for itself and he won't have a problem in the world to coach at club level.''

White led South Africa to the under-21 World Cup title in 2002 before being given the task of coaching the senior national side. The Springboks went on to win the 2004 Tri Nations series and the 2007 World Cup. Guiding the Brumbies will be his first full-time job since South Africa's World Cup triumph.

''When I did stop coaching I said I would only go back if I could go to a team that I could add value to and that team could add value to me as a coach,'' White said. ''I've been offered many jobs post the World Cup that I never felt had the right synergy for me.

''So when the Brumbies job came up, it was one that excited me. I enjoy the Brumbies brand, I enjoy the way they play.

''I think they're in a place now which I think is pretty similar to where the Boks were in 2004 - they need some guidance and I'm excited about building a team. Anyone can take over a winning combination and keep winning. Part of what excites me is going into a team and trying to help them when they're not at their best.''

White lives in Stellenbosch near Cape Town and will visit Canberra next month to watch the Brumbies play the Lions at Canberra Stadium on May 14.

The 48-year-old is married to Lindy and has two sons, Clinton, 19, and Wesley, 16. He will then permanently relocate to the capital in July to start building his program.

After more than three years as a coaching consultant for some of the world's top teams, White got the itch to return to the job full-time. He was negotiating with French and English clubs before Friend was sacked and the Brumbies role became available.

He was with former Brumbies mentor Eddie Jones when the news first broke and White said talking to Jones convinced him that joining the Brumbies was the perfect opportunity for a new challenge.

''I was spoiled [when coaching South Africa] because I knew all the players, I knew where they came from, and sometimes I knew their parents,'' White said.

''Now I don't know the players or the environment, I'm not going in with any bias or any preconceived ideas. I'm going in with an open mind and that's nice because the players will be judged on how I get to know them and what I see with my own eyes.''
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