Nic White has re-signed with the Brumbies. Photo: Melissa Adams MLA
Jake White is concerned about young Australian players turning their backs on their country and taking up lucrative offers in Europe or Japan, but that won't stop him from trying to assemble an all-Wallabies backline similar to the Brumbies' golden era.
The ACT Brumbies coach secured the signature of scrumhalf Nic White on a one-year contract extension on Monday, which will keep him in Canberra until the end of 2014.
Jake White wants him to be part of a backline similar to when the Brumbies won their two Super Rugby championships in 2001 and 2004.
''When I think about the Brumbies I think about [George] Gregan, [Stephen] Larkham, [Stirling] Mortlock, [Rod] Kafer, [Joe] Roff, that backline played for Australia … and we're trying to do the same sort of thing here,'' he said.
''We're trying to make sure the more Nic plays with Matt Toomua and Christian Lealiifano, and the more that Pat McCabe plays in that backline, and the more Joe Tomane plays in that backline, there's no reason why in three or four years time that won't be the Australian backline.''
But Nic White admitted he seriously considered moving to French club Stade Francais despite being just 22 years old. In the past, players spent most of their careers in Super Rugby before cashing in as they approached retirement.
But that is changing.
Jake White, who coached South Africa to victory in the 2007 World Cup, said losing young talent overseas was a problem he wasn't used to.
He said a lot of players had been kept in Australia by the British and Irish Lions tour this year and was hopeful the 2015 World Cup in England would also act as bait.
''I think it's a concern for Australian rugby that people sit at this age and talk about going overseas,'' Jake said.
''I think it's unique, it's not something I'm used to where I come from.
''At the end of the day national jumpers are foremost and that's all South African boys think of … but I understand Japan's just down the road, which offers a lot of opportunities, and the northern hemisphere look for Australian backs.''
It was that desire to break into the Wallabies that finally convinced Nic White to stay.
White got selected as Will Genia's back-up at scrumhalf for the Wales tour last year, but spent three games on the bench.
Genia later tore his anterior cruciate ligament while playing for the Queensland Reds, opening up the Wallabies role, but a shoulder operation prevented White from going on the European spring tour.
White said Genia's injury played no part in his decision to stay, but he did want to see where he sat in Wallabies coach Robbie Deans' plans. That's why he only signed a one-year extension, despite his Brumbies coach wanting to lock him in until the end of 2015 when his own four-year contract expires.
White said he would re-assess his situation next year and refused to rule out a move overseas in the future.
''Will's here for the next three years, I definitely could've gone and come back after the World Cup, which Will potentially after two World Cups could probably go and not aim for a third,'' he said. ''It was a thought, but it's done now, I'm staying here for another year.''
The Brumbies have the chance to win the first three games of a season for the first time since 2005.
It was a fact that surprised Jake White, but one he was confident of rectifying against the Waratahs at Canberra Stadium on Saturday night.
''One thing this team has done is taken every challenge that's come - we hadn't beaten the Hurricanes in Wellington for a long time, we beat them, we're on the cusp of winning, if we win another away game, it's seven in a row, which is the most in our Super Rugby franchise,'' he said.
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