CAN INCOMING SENIOR coach Jacques Nienaber make the difference and help get Leinster across the line in European competition this season?
That was one of the questions touched upon during today’s Rugby Weekly Extra, the podcast for subscribers to The 42.
“It feels like the perfect marriage,” podcast host Gavan Casey said. “He’s been part of a South Africa team that has not even necessarily been totally consistent in between World Cups, but when push has come to shove both he and Rassie, their senior players – back to back they’ve won the most difficult tournament in rugby that you can possibly win.
“Back to back Leinster have fallen a tiny bit short in their equivalent competition . . . I would say the writing’s on the wall with Nienaber coming in there, no?”
Bernard Jackman, former Ireland and Leinster hooker, said the province’s supporters may need to be show patience as new tactics and systems are bedded in, but the payoff could be substantial.
“People talk about cup rugby, well is there anyone better from the international game you can bring in who understands that? I’m not sure,” Jackman said. “The players are desperate for him to come in, a fresh voice, a winner, I think it’s going to be brilliant.”
He added: “There might be a little bit of teething problems, particularly if they revolutionise their defence. But if there is, so be it. It’s worth going through that pain to try and … No one wants to replicate the feeling they had in Marseille or the Aviva last year. So, short-term pain to make them a better team, a team equipped to lift silverware, I think is well worth it.”
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Excited to see what nienaber can do. He’s been hidden in a way under rassies cloud. Huge move for him and hopefully it pans out for him
@Patrick O’Sullivan: he is understated and modest so looks hidden.
Erassmus & Nienaber, think outside the box and are prepared to do things that other teams wouldn’t think of, in order to win, they understand that small margins make the difference and playing the same way can be predictable so they look for a point of difference, they are not rigid in who plays where, they trust in the players and the strategies they implement and they have an ethos that they all buy into, they are tough , hard nosed and committed. I’ve no doubt that Nienebar will bring another dimension to Lienster Rugby, as did Stuart Lancaster. A word for Leo Cullen who has the intelligence and temperament to understand what’s needed. I look forward to seeing the development in the players who are a gifted bunch of guys who will relish the challenge.
Leo is building up some serious IP…Schmidt, Lancaster, Nienebar, Goodman, McBride, Robertson, current Ireland set up, Henry etc. Thought he would have been a perfect fit for the performance role with the Irfu.
Can’t see Nienebar focusing on the youth so much but if he brings the win at all costs attitude that SA have then great.
However, Ireland’s defence is better than SA’s since Easterby took over.