The Springboks made a big announcement this week after it was confirmed that double World Cup-winning assistant coach Felix Jones would be returning to the national set up.

Jones was a member of the team’s triumphant 2019 and 2023 RWC campaigns, but he then left to take up a new gig with England, and it appeared that the Springboks had lost one of their most popular coaches to a Test match rival.

In what is a real coup, though, Jones now returns to join the management team that was already bolstered by the appointments of international coaches Tony Brown and Jerry Flannery after the last World Cup, with Duane Vermeulen also contributing as a ‘mobi unit’ coach.

It does seem likely that the Springboks have now finalised their coaching staff through to the next World Cup, but it would be fascinating to see if they could perhaps make one major appointment before that global showpiece.

Former head coach Jacques Nienaber has enjoyed great success since leaving the Springboks after the 2023 World Cup to join up with Irish club Irish club Leinster, who are undefeated and top of the URC log.

Although the World Cup winning coach is currently committed to Leinster, his contract is set to expire after the 2025-26 season, and one wonders whether he could then be tempted to also rejoin the Springboks.

During an interview towards the end of last year, Nienaber said he was extremely happy with his current job position, and that he had needed a change from the rigours of international coaching. But… and it’s a big but… he also did not rule out a return to Test rugby when the time was right.

“It is absolutely the right time for me, my family and my coaching journey, and being tested daily, to be here now,” he posted on social media last October.

“But that is not to dismiss what I did before now, what I loved to do before now or to dismiss what might come down the line. But for now, I am happy here at Leinster.”

If there was any way for good friend Rassie Erasmus to rope Nienaber back in at the Springboks, it would truly complete a coaching ‘dream team’ as the world champs look to go for a hat-trick of World Cup titles in 2027.

Springbok management team:

Head Coach: Rassie Erasmus
General Manager: Charles Wessels
Assistant Coaches: Tony Brown, Deon Davids, Jerry Flannery, Daan Human, Felix Jones, Mzwandile Stick
Mobi-Unit Coach: Duane Vermeulen 
Head of Athletic Performance: Andy Edwards 
Laws and Discipline Advisor: Jaco Peyper
Performance Analyst: Paddy Sullivan 
Technical Analyst: Lindsay Weyer
Sport Scientist: Sebastian Prim 
Team Doctor: Dr Jerome Lehlogonolo Mampane
Physiotherapists: Dr Anuerin Robyn, Lance Lemmetjies
Logistics Manager: JJ Fredericks 
Operations Manager: Zintsika Tashe
Media Manager: Zeena Isaacs van Tonder
Dietician: Robyn Moore

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE NIENABER BACK WITH THE BOKS ONE DAY?

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Src: TheSouthAfrican.com - https://rugga.co.za/springboks/could-the-springboks-make-one-more-big-coaching-move/