Wallabies ready to consider White

SYDNEY, Australia -- Jake White, who masterminded South Africa's World Cup victory, would be seriously considered for the vacant post of Australian coach if he applied, said Australian RU chief John O'Neill.

O'Neill said interviews with candidates would be held on November 9, with the ARU board expected to make a decision by the end of next month.

"In the real world, you'd like the person to be Australian. (But) the priority for us is to get the best person for the job," O'Neill told reporters in Sydney.

"If Jake White is an applicant, we'd certainly consider his application."

White has previously indicated that he would step down when his contract expires at the end of the year, but he was less definite about his future when the squad returned to South Africa on Tuesday.

He said he would follow the advice of the former Australian coach Eddie Jones and ex-England boss Clive Woodward and not make any hasty decision.

"The one thing I did learn from Eddie Jones and Clive Woodward was not to make emotional decisions. The best thing is to take some to time off and reflect," he said.

"What I would like to do is take time off, meet my bosses and chat with them, meet with the players ... and then make a decision in the best interests of everyone concerned."

The rugby authorities are now expected to come under renewed pressure from the government to pick more colored players in the team, with President Thabo Mbeki saying in a radio interview on Monday night that results were not all important.

"If we are going to lose one or two games in order to achieve that goal (of racial transformation) I think lets lose one or two games," he told Metro FM.

Mbeki's former spokesman Bheki Khumalo, who is now an executive of the Springboks' sponsors Sasol, warned against forcing White into a position where he wanted to quit.

"Whatever the political issues ... I really think it would be a moment of disaster if White were to be allowed to depart the scene," Khumalo said at the team's press conference.

"I really think it would be a moment that I don't think we could explain to our children or our children's children."

Australian rugby chief O'Neill has also reportedly held talks with the Canterbury Crusaders' Robbie Deans and he confirmed other coaches on the shortlist included Auckland's David Nucifora, the NSW Waratah's Ewen McKenzie, ACT Brumbies' Laurie Fisher and Wallabies assistant coaches Scott Johnson and John Muggleton.

South Africa's World Cup winning squad were welcomed by thousands of fans when they arrived back home with the Webb Ellis trophy at Johannesburg airport.

White and his squad were greeted by jubilant supporters, many wearing green and yellow shirts and waving flags.

"It is unbelievable," said winning captain John Smit."It is one thing winning the cup, and its completely different thing bringing it home to people who deserve it ... showing this (trophy) off is worthwhile," he said.

"Singing "Ole Ole" and "shosholoza," the crowd was in high spirits, with some having camped over at the airport or arrived as early as 3 am.

"We woke up at 2 and left home at 2.30am," said an excited 17-year-old Grant Matthee.

"Welcome back Bokke," said 11-year-old Viaan Gouws, who was there with several of his friends, all part of his school's first rugby team.

The South African team will embark on a series of victory celebrations later in the week, including a reception on Friday with President Mbeki which will be followed by an open-top bus tour across Johannesburg and the black township of Soweto. E-mail to a friend