Jake White is desperate to oust South Africa coach Peter de Villiers, even on an interim basis, and has revealed that contact with his former employers over the role has already been made.
The current Springbok boss is under heavy pressure and facing mounting criticism in the wake of a poor 2010 season from the world champions.
'I can't bear to watch the Springboks playing like this any more,' White, who guided the team to the 2007 World Cup title, told South Africa's The Times.
'I'm ready to do a hospital job and coach the Springboks to the World Cup in 2011 if the South African Rugby Union (SARU) wants me.
'I've already made contact with SARU president Oregan Hoskins but he keeps telling me he has to run the idea past the executive council.
'Well, I'm saying I'm available because what we've seen with the Springboks in the past 10 months is worrying.'
De Villiers led South Africa to their worst ever Tri Nations finish at the weekend after they slumped to a fifth loss in six games when they went down 41-39 to Australia in Bloemfontein.
However, he has been in the spotlight for plenty of reasons already this year with his comments against match officials landing him in front of a SANZAR hearing.
More recently he also said the Springboks were 100% behind Bees Roux - the Bulls rugby player arrested and charged with the alleged killing of a Pretoria policeman.
SARU are set to discuss those issues as well as the on-field performances of the team later this month. But White is adamant the only way to fix things is by changing the coaching set-up.
'We were the strongest defensive team in world rugby a short while ago, now suddenly we are conceding 22 tries in a Tri Nations season,' he said.
'That is unacceptable, and there are such elementary mistakes that are being made. It's extremely frustrating to watch it happen and it saddens me to see it.'
White, who led the Springboks between 2004 and 2007, also put his weight behind Allister Coetzee to take over in the long term.
The current Western Province coach was his assistant during his reign and the 47-year-old said on www.supersport.com: 'Allister was the man who should have been appointed to replace me after the last World Cup.
'I said so at the time, and I remain convinced about that. But I think it might be a bit unfair on Allister, or anyone else for that matter, to be brought in on a 12-month contract and expected to fix it in that space of time with no guarantee that they will stay on beyond the World Cup.
'When you take over the national job, you do need a bit of time to grow into it. At a World Cup you need someone who has been a head coach at international level for a while.
'I am prepared to do that job and take it on a temporary basis. I have experience of what is required, I know the players because two thirds of the guys who make up the core group were players I coached up until the last World Cup.'
White wants former Wallaby coach Eddie Jones as his assistant.
He added: 'I have spoken to Eddie and he is very eager to get involved again if the opportunity arises and he would love to have a crack at winning another World Cup.
'Neither myself or Eddie are in contract with anyone at the moment, we can start next week if SARU want us to. We are available to work with the Boks again, and I have told Oregan Hoskins as much.
'To me it's hard to imagine how they can think they can carry on with the current set-up, but getting someone with the necessary experience in for just 12 months is going to be difficult.
'The players we have in this country are good enough to win a World Cup, they just need guidance.'
