Bledisloe Cup: Wallabies great and Western Force scrum-half Nic White expects retirement to finally occur

Wallabies great Nic White does not expect to pull on the gold jersey again as he aims to finally hang up the boots and enjoy his already-interrupted retirement plans. The Western Force scrum-half has become the Wallabies’ answer to John Farnham after his retirement game turned into a tour due to injuries at the specialist position. Jake Gordon’s hamstring injury left Australia short a No.9 and White was persuaded after his farewell Test against the British and Irish Lions on August 2 to stay on with the team through the first four games of their Rugby Championship campaign. Incumbent starter Tate McDermott now requires hamstring surgery after hurting himself against the All Blacks last weekend, which has seen White step in as a training partner ahead of their clash in Perth on Saturday. With Gordon now fully fit again, Brumbies half-back Ryan Lonergan having made his international debut and Queensland Reds’ Kalani Thomas in Wallabies camp, White told The West Australian he did not expect to join the spring tour to Japan and Europe when it starts later this month. “They haven’t asked me or anything, but that’ll be a stretch too far — I’m booked in for surgery in a couple of weeks,” White said. “Hopefully the boys get through this week and weekend, and Kalani Thomas is in with us this week as well and I’m passing on everything I can do to get him ready for the spring tour.” Should there be another injury in the scrum-half ranks, White said he would consider it although he was looking forward to spending time with his family. “Again, if something happened and the goalposts moved yet again, I’ve committed a couple of times now since the goal posts have moved. “Should anything happen to Ryan or Jake this week, then I’ll buckle up. Jake’s back and fit now, and Ryan did a good job last week, so I’m just preparing those boys for this weekend. “Touch wood nothing happens this week, but should something happen in training I’ll step in.”