If South Africa beat England at Twickenham on Saturday, they will return home with a post-World Cup record this year of nine victories and four defeats. That compares favourably with England in 2004, the year that followed the winning of the World Cup in Sydney, when five games were won and six lost, but the Springboks were warned yesterday that greater difficulties lie ahead once their veterans retire.

Jake White, who coached South Africa to their 2007 World Cup triumph, said: “The challenge is when we lose senior players, who've been there and done it. Should Peter [de Villiers, his successor as head coach] have taken a B side and played it, as Robbie Deans has with Australia and Graham Henry with New Zealand?”

White, who arrives in England this weekend and was promoting Sky Sports' exclusive live coverage of Saturday's game, believes that veterans such as John Smit, Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha will see next summer's series against the Lions as the natural conclusion to their international careers, although he points out that few have beaten England at Twickenham.

By the time the Lions arrive in Johannesburg in May, White could be working in the northern hemisphere. He is to spend next week with Saracens, linking up once more with Eddie Jones, the former Australia coach, who was the tactical analyst for South Africa at the World Cup, but is now director of rugby at the Watford-based club. They will also coach the Barbarians against Australia at Wembley on December 3.

“I'm busy negotiating a couple of deals which could bring me back into rugby,” White said. “There's a chance you'll see me up here from January.”

Two clubs seeking a man of his stature would be the Ospreys, who have been linked with Wayne Smith, the New Zealand assistant coach, and Toulon, where John Connolly, the former Australia head coach, has been working in a consultative role.

In the meantime, White has taken the opportunity to recharge his batteries, after nearly four years as South Africa coach. “You can't expect every international coach to win every Test,” he said, referring to Martin Johnson's first defeat, last weekend against Australia, as England team manager. “Let's not forget that a guy like Clive Woodward started with a novice England team that ended up winning the World Cup. “But coaching an international side is very different to playing for your country. Four of the coaches who have won the World Cup did so without playing international rugby [Bob Dwyer in 1991 with Australia, Kitch Christie in 1995 with South Africa, Rod Macqueen in 1999 with Australia and White last year]. But someone like Martin understands where you start and where you need to end.”

White also remains to be convinced by Danny Cipriani as an international-calibre player and emphasised the value of Jonny Wilkinson, who might have been Johnson's first choice at fly half had he not been injured. “Danny hasn't done as much as people make out for him yet,” White said. “I've heard more about him in the West End than on a rugby field. I still think Wilkinson is by far the best fly half England have had for a long time. We haven't seen the best of Cipriani yet, he needs to use his opportunities.”

White has reservations about South Africa's use of players on this tour. Why, he asks, did the Springboks not call for C. J. van der Linde, the experienced prop now with Leinster, once their front-row resources dwindled because of injury? Overseas players, including Butch James, the Bath fly half, are available and keen to appear against the Lions next year. Some younger players, such as Earl Rose, the fly half, and Heinrich Brussow, the flanker, have not been seen and White considers a place should be found against England for Danie Rossouw, the experienced No 8, who has played only six minutes, against Scotland. If the weather turns foul, it will tell against South Africa in a match in which he views England as favourites.

“It's tough at Twickenham. You need a goalkicker and that's one concern for South Africa,” he said. “England are coming off a big loss and they'll really be up for it. Test rugby isn't about ticking boxes, it's about the number of wins you get.” Johnson would agree with that.