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 have lost just one game in the URC and are overwhelming favourites to claim the title at a canter.
As was the case when he was with the Springboks, Nienaber has become incredibly popular with the players in Ireland, both respected for his on-field acumen and beloved for his caring off-field nature.
Leinster flanker Josh van der Flier is the latest player who has showered Nienaber with praise.
“He’s got a lot of insights into how he’s managed to get the best out of the players who have played with him. He’s obviously worked with some of the best players in the world, and, as a double World Cup winner, you know what he teaches works,” Van der Flier told Planet Rugby.
“From a non-technical point of view, he’s a very good motivator. He’s great at getting you in the right frame of mind and, really importantly, he expects you to work as a teammate to others, something key within the Springboks as we saw in 2023. He talks about how you should behave as a teammate.
“Jacques is really good at making sure the mindset of the whole group is focused and as one,” he added. “From a technical point of view, he adds a huge amount in terms of individual things in defence and tackling, but his real unique selling point is within the team environment. He adds so much in terms of the attitude people should have, and that’s motivating for the whole group.”
Jacques Nienaber has been missed by the Springboks
Nienaber’s contract is set to expire after the 2025-26 season, and one wonders whether he could then be tempted to also rejoin the Springboks in the same fashion as Felix Jones, who was recently added to a blockbuster coaching group.
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.
Current 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 THE LEINSTER COACH BACK WITH THE BOKS ONE DAY?
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Src: TheSouthAfrican.com - https://rugga.co.za/springboks/ex-springbok-coach-wins-praise-as-a-game-changer/
