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Jake White a 'terrible choice' for England

Cape Town - Former England flyhalf Stuart Barnes has urged his country’s rugby bosses not to appoint Jake White as new head coach.

White, who currently coaches French Top 14 club Montpellier, is the bookmakers’ favourite to replace Stuart Lancaster.

However, Barnes - nowadays a well-known rugby commentator - has urged England's Rugby Football Union to opt for a different coach.

In his latest column for The Times, Barnes said New Zealand duo Ian Foster and Dave Rennie are better suited for the role.

“For England to fine-tune their game they must raid New Zealand, the country that understands what makes great teams (and attractive ones) more than any other," Barnes wrote.

White led the Springboks to the Rugby World Cup title in 2007 and while Barnes admits the former Bok, Brumbies and Sharks coach comes with strong credentials, he says his "boring" style has failed to progress in the eight years since that success in Paris.

"The Brumbies were one of the great attacking teams of southern hemisphere rugby until White straightened them out," Barnes continued.

"They made a Super Rugby final but they lost friends. Rugby is more than a strong set piece, a kick-and-chase game and a goal-kicker. White strips teams of joy."

Barnes, 52, played 10 Tests for England between 1984 and 1993.

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