Johan Ackermann is reportedly being lined up to take charge of the Vodacom Bulls, with claims that senior players and coaches have called for Jake White to be axed.
According to Rapport, skipper Ruan Nortje and fellow Springbok Marcell Coetzee led a player delegation that met with Bulls management to express dissatisfaction with director of rugby White’s leadership.
The group is said to have demanded urgent intervention, with some players reportedly threatening not to renew or even to terminate contracts if change isn’t forthcoming.
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Assistant coaches Chris Rossouw and Andries Bekker are also believed to have withdrawn support, their relationship with White having deteriorated to the point that they barely communicated during the URC final defeat to Leinster two weeks ago.
White’s public criticism of players is cited as a factor in the breakdown, alongside post-match comments in Dublin where the former Springbok boss suggested the Bulls couldn’t compete with Leinster’s depth.
Ex-Lions coach Ackermann is currently assisting the Junior Boks and is expected to be available after the U20 Championship in July.
Rapport notes that White previously approached Ackermann to coach the Bulls’ Currie Cup side, and that the 55-year-old has strong ties to CEO Edgar Rathbone and president Willem Strauss, who previously suggested the Herd need “a new voice”.
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