JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP) _ Jake White pledged not to resign as South Africa coach on Tuesday while trying to prepare an end to the Springboks' five-match losing streak in the face of mounting public criticism.
``I won't walk away from this job,'' White said.
South Africa has two more chances to win a match in the Tri-Nations, resuming with champion New Zealand on Saturday in Rustenberg, but interest in the woeful Springboks was so poor that 14,000 tickets were yet to be sold in the 39,000-seat Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace.
An attempt to help White by South African Rugby Union president Oregan Hoskins was also turning into an embarrassment.
Hoskins asked former Springboks coaches Nick Mallett, Andre Markgraaff, Rudolf Straeuli and Carel du Plessis to brainstorm with White on Thursday, but all but immediate predecessor Straeuli have begun to cry off.
Markgraaff and White had a falling out last year, and Markgraaff said he wasn't prepared to meet with the embattled coach until he apologized.
Mallett didn't believe anything could be accomplished in one meeting, and Du Plessis indicated he was too busy.
White still appreciated Hoskins' intent.
``The president has been very positive toward me,'' White told the South African Press Association. ``He told me that he had seen this before and that it is not pleasant but gave me his backing and suggested bringing guys from the outside to come in and help me. I'm more than willing to listen to anybody, doesn't matter who the committee is.
``Anyone who can add value we must take with open hands. If they have the answers that can make us turn the corner then great, and I think it is a great step by SARU. How does one handle this? Is there a book you can buy and go to chapter six and that tells you how to handle this?''
Meanwhile, a neck injury to prop CJ van der Linde opened a place in the squad for veteran winger Breyton Paulse.
Fullback Percy Montgomery (stomach bug), scrumhalf Fourie du Preez (ear infection), and hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle (ill) did not train either on Tuesday.
