Former Ireland hooker Bernard Jackman believes that Jacques Nienaber’s true influence is being felt at Leinster this season after an impressive first half of the campaign.
While the Dublin-based outfit might not be the swashbuckling side seen under Stuart Lancaster, they have excelled in other facets in 2024/25.
Their defence has been particularly outstanding so far with Leo Cullen’s men conceding the fewest points in the United Rugby Championship (URC).
Taken form into Europe
They have been equally stingy in the Champions Cup, defeating Bristol Bears and Clermont Auvergne 35-12 and 15-7 respectively.
Jackman insists that Nienaber’s coaching is really beginning to tell on Leinster, who go into 2025 in fine shape.
“It’s just been fascinating, the game model they have, how they have bought into it. The Nienaber effect is phenomenal,” he told the RTÉ Rugby Podcast.
“He’s turned south county Dublin players into proper psychos. There’s an edge to nearly every one of them.
“It’s not just a couple of players in the forward pack. James Ryan is going around bashing people but nearly every single one of them, and even players off the bench, and whether they’ve got single digits on their jersey, or double digits, they’re looking to win those physical battles over and over again.”
Nienaber arrived at the province in December 2023 following the Springboks’ Rugby World Cup success, but he could not quite inspire them to the silverware they craved.
Leinster once again succumbed at the final hurdle in the Champions Cup as they went down to Toulouse, but Jackman believes that there has been a noticeable mindset shift this season.
The respected pundit especially felt that it was in evidence in the huge derby against arch-rivals Munster, which the Dubliners won 28-7.
“It seems to be a love of doing it. It’s a massive change and has got better week on week,” he said.
“We saw a strong Leinster team go to Limerick and they relished the task. In fairness, Munster threw everything they had at them. I’d have no criticism of Munster, I thought Munster left it all out there.
“It wasn’t a 50-0 [win]. Munster actually threw pretty much everything they had, and yet you felt at the end they were just out of juice.”
Discipline
Perhaps the one drawback to Leinster’s aggression and physical intensity under Nienaber is their discipline, which has been lacking at times.
Although their opponents have not taken advantage, Jackman has queried whether the better teams will be quite so profligate.
The province will ultimately be judged on silverware and the latter stages of the URC and Champions Cup will provide proof of whether their change has worked.
“It will be interesting if La Rochelle get penalties on the 40. They have a bigger pack, so they could potentially go to the corner and score but, if they start taking three points, no one has really done that against them,” Jackman added.
“They’re doing it [kicking penalties] against Ireland. Ireland’s discipline has dropped off a little bit, and some of that is down to how Leinster players are playing for Leinster where it doesn’t seem to be a ‘no no’ to give away penalties at the breakdown, to give away penalties for offside.
“They back themselves to be able to get themselves out of that situation. And the ones they don’t get blown for will be big wins for them.
“The way Leinster have shifted is amazing to watch, but it’s the buy-in that they’ve got on it. Maybe not winning a trophy makes that easier, players are more receptive.
“The Nienaber effect has been massive, and much more this year than last year now that he’s had a full pre-season.”
Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/bernard-jackman-claims-jacques-nienaber-has-turned-leinsters-players-into-proper-psychos
