Wednesday, 13th June 2007 at 4:10 pm

Jake White still smiling

After the last fortnight he’s endured - Luke Watson’s enforced selection, political broadsides from half-witted politicians and administrators across the country, allegations of thuggery in the Sandton News Cafe - you’d think Jake White would be a manic depressive by now. But at Wednesday’s training the coach was all smiles, and perhaps there’s a good reason: after all, he’s just a couple of days away from the Tri-Nations, and that holds plenty of appeal for several reasons.

Simply getting to focus on rugby (and with his own 30-man squad, rather than one implemented by politicians playing fantasy rugby) will be cause for cheer for White, as will the promise of a winning start - Australian rugby is enduring a difficult patch, and a home Test at Newlands with the Boks on a good run suggests the Tri-Nations will get off on a positive note for South Africa.

But perhaps Jake’s biggest cause for a skip in the step is that the Tri-Nations will take him to Australia and New Zealand, many welcome time zones away from South Africa, and the assorted malaise that has made one of sport’s most difficult jobs all the more unappealing in the last month. Away Tests in Venezuela and Burkina Faso would be most welcome at the moment; New Zealand, and an away game against the All Blacks, will be an alternative White is quite possibly sizing up more cheerfully than any of his predecessors ever have.

• For a preview of the Tri-Nations from the perspective off all three countries, check out Fox Sports Australia - with the South African contribution coming from Matt Garrett, the former UCT flanker now working as an analyst with Fox in Sydney.