South Africa's World Cup winning coach Jake White has said he is more interested in taking a break from the game than applying for the top job with England.

White (pictured) had a successful but difficult tenure in charge of the Springboks and announced that he would not be applying again for the job.

The 43-year-old is currently in the UK preparing an injury-ravaged South Africa side for a one-off Test with Wales on Saturday and a clash with the Barbarians at Twickenham a week later.

Reports suggested the highly-respected coach was interested in working for the RFU due to problems in the England set-up under current coach Brian Ashton that were highlighted by senior players.

England suffered a miserable start to their campaign and looked anything but World Cup finalists during their early pool games, a fact recently pointed out in the serialised autobiographies of veterans Lawrence Dallaglio and Mike Catt.

RFU director of rugby Rob Andrew is in the process of compiling a post World Cup report which is likely to decide the fate of Ashton.

Many believe he should be retained, but with a manager to help him with the non-coaching responsibilities.

White, who led the Springboks to victory in France last month, has been linked with a number of jobs after revealing he would not be renewing his contract with the Springboks, which finishes at the end of the year.

"I've been quite amazed by how many jobs I've been offered in the newspapers that I haven't really got to know about," White said while training his side in Cardiff.

"But as I've always said it's unbelievable to think there have been six World Cups and England have been to three finals.

"In some ways England probably play a similar style to South Africa and I've had links with England before when the Rob Andrew job was available and that's why people have asked would I consider it.

"When you're involved in rugby you always want to make sure you can add value to teams that you think are going to suit the way you coach.

"That's why I've said England - with whatever jobs - would always be a country I'd be interested in.

"But at this point I think there's nothing worse than being an incumbent coach in the country and listening all the time about some other guy trying to your vie for your job and I think it's a little unfair on a guy like Brian Ashton who's taken the team to the World Cup final.

"At this point, straight from the horse's mouth, I'd like some time off and my first priority is to finish off my tenure as national South Africa coach and then from next year see what opportunities come and hopefully make a decision on which I can add value to the team I think I can coach."

White added that he intends taking the advice of his World Cup assistant Eddie Jones, the former Australia coach who had an unsuccessful time as with Super 14 side Queensland Reds after being sacked by the Wallabies.

"The one thing he (Jones) did emphasise is to make sure I don't rush into another opportunity, not the first one that comes about," added White.

"By his own admission Eddie went straight from the Wallabies to the Reds and we know how unsuccessful he was there.

"When you say would I consider a job in the Guinness Premiership if an opportunity became available? Of course.

"When you are involved in rugby you'd always consider it, but I would want to make sure it's a win-win for everybody. I'd want to go to a club or country or a team where I think I can add value and get a return off the way they play.

Terence O'Rorke / Eurosport