This season has not quite gone to plan for the Springboks, and some warning signs were already flashing when they conceded as many as 24 points in the season-opening Test against Italy.
Although South Africa bounced back in the next Test without conceding a point, some serious deficiencies in defence again came starkly in the spotlight when the Wallabies scored a remarkable 38 unanswered points in their Rugby Championship opener.
A week later, Australia again exposed some fragilities in a hard-fought game that went in favour of the Springboks 30-22, while just this past weekend the All Blacks scored two ‘soft’ tries against Rassie Erasmus’ charges, albeit more as a result of individual errors as opposed to system failures.
The Springboks’ high-speed, outward-in rush defence has been such a key strength over the period of back-to-back World cup wins, but it just hasn’t seemed to have the same level of potency as before. Perhaps opponents have now had enough time to work out how to counterattack this defensive system, but something – or someone – does seem to be missing.
Of course, the Springboks’ defence guru from 2018 to 2023 was none other than Jacques Nienaber, who boasts an incredible affinity for this aspect of the game.
Nienaber left the national camp after the last World Cup to take up a gig with Leinster, but increasingly, Springboks fans are realising that the softly-spoken former head coach was perhaps incredibly under-appreciated.
And now, after the latest disappointment at Eden Park, fans were united in calling for the Springboks to bring back Nienaber.
So, could Jacques Nienaber return to the Springboks?
Nienaber has enjoyed great success since leaving the Springboks after the 2023 World Cup to join up with Irish club Irish club Leinster.
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.
DO YOU AGREE WITH THIS SENTIMENT?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211.
Subscribe to The South African website’s newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
