I won’t be messed around by England again, says Jake White

Montpellier boss Jake White insists he won't take part in a drawn-out application process for the vacant England head coach role.

White, who coached South Africa's 2007 World Cup-winning squad, is one of the leading candidates to replace Stuart Lancaster after he parted ways with the Rugby Football Union (RFU) in the aftermath of England's dismal World Cup campaign.

But the 52-year-old South African has twice been snubbed at the final hurdle by the RFU, when Martin Johnson took control in 2008 and when Lancaster was handed the reins in 2012.

Determined not to be messed around for a third time, White has called on RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie to install him as the organisation's top choice before he will consider succeeding Lancaster, who was widely criticised for his lack of top-level experience during England's World Cup pool stage exit.

“Everyone in world rugby knows this is one of the prime jobs, in fact even in world sports,” White said.

“If the RFU thinks I am the man for the job and there wasn't going to be any rigmarole of going through the whole process which I have before then I would be a contender.”