'If the Springboks don't win, the buck stops with me. I have to take responsibility. That is how hands-on I will be.'
Jacques Nienaber may have the ‘title’, but Rassie Erasmus will still be the de facto head coach of the Springboks.
Nienaber, who was named as the new Springbok coach on Friday, after Rassie Erasmus held the job for the past two years and took the Boks to World Cup glory in Japan last year, has never previously held a head coaching position.
However, both Nienaber and Erasmus explained that not much has changed in the set-up, even though Nienaber will take charge of the ‘day-to-day’ matters of the national team.
“Jacques is highly experienced and has worked with the Springboks on three separate occasions now, so knows exactly what the job is about,” Erasmus said.
Nienaber played a crucial role as defence coach when the Springboks won the World Cup a record-equalling third time in November, beating England 32-12 in the Final.
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Starting out as a conditioning coach, the 47-year-old defence is credited for much of the Springboks’ tactical successes in the Final in Yokohama.
Erasmus fronted up to the media to explain how Nienaber’s new title will impact the Springboks.
“Everyone knows, when I was appointed as Director of Rugby a few years ago, it was to work with the coaches and different departments,” Erasmus told a media briefing.
“When Allister [Coetzee] moved on, then the focus was solely the Springbok team and the World Cup. We all realised it was impossible to do both jobs and by appointing a head coach now it will free up myself now to be a little bit more strategic.
“When I mean strategic, I am definitely not going to have an admin job where I sit in the office,” Erasmus said – a statement he had previously made about his ongoing involvement with the national team.
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“If I can give you an example. My role for example with the Junior Springboks, it wouldn’t be to help them win. That would be the job of the Junior Springbok coach. My job would be for the Junior Springboks to be holistically developed so when they come out on the other side of the Junior Springbok campaign, they must be better equipped to be better Springbok players.
“I would not have the knowledge to be a better coach than [Sevens coach] Neil Powell and those guys. They are the knowledgeable guys and the best [Sevens] coaches in South Africa. My job would be to help them get the right players released for the Olympics and the various tournaments.
“In every department, I know a bit about the technical stuff, but it would be more to make sure the systems we have serve what we want to achieve on the field and those systems are aligned so that we don’t only win the World Cup every 12 years.
“I can go on. I can’t tell the referees how to referee. But the way they plan and integrate with that plan will be one of my KPIs [Key Performance Indicators] there.
New Zealand will remain a stop on the Sevens World Series for at least the next three years as hosting options in Fiji continue to be explored.https://t.co/pRgQAerDNO
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 25, 2020
“Obviously my responsibility with the Springboks will be for them to win,” Erasmus said, adding: “So yes, having a guy like Jacques with all his experience there [with the Springboks], I will still be part of the management team.
“I will be there, in the coach’s box, with him.
“I will be accountable if the Springboks don’t win. I will be part of the team selection when we select the team.
“However, having him there working more on the day-to-day things and giving me more time to focus on the strategic things, that was the thinking behind the whole system.”
Nienaber said he will continue the same formula of invocation that Erasmus had brought to the squad in the lead-up to the World Cup.
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“The main thing for us is continuity,” the new ‘coach’ said.
“Continuity for me will be to drive the goals we drew up in 2018 when we came over to the Springboks,” he added.
“It will be for us to win and keep on winning consistently. But with winning the big thing will be to focus on transformation, to focus on creating squad depth and to focus on giving experience to players to fill a pipeline which will continuously drive getting good results for the Springboks.”
Erasmus always wanted someone he could trust and Nienaber is that ‘trusted sidekick’.
Erasmus underlined the bond between the two men and reiterated that he will be involved every step of the way, while always looking out for what is best for Bok rugby.
Nothing like a hit-out against a bunch of amateurs to prepare you for Super Rugby, eh @Sunwolves? 🙃https://t.co/fJ0GraXbDU #SuperRugby
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 25, 2020
“Jacques and I have worked together since 1990 in the army. We understand each other and debate things extensively. We will always do what is right for Springbok rugby.
“Just as Matthew Proudfoot and I did the maul last year, he didn’t do it alone. I coached alongside him on the rolling maul. We did the scrums as well. We will sit together in all the meetings. I will help him plan.
“You know scrums don’t function without line-outs, and line-outs don’t function without attack. Attack doesn’t function without defence. Defence doesn’t function without the breakdown. To tie all those together, we are lucky to have him as a qualified conditioning coach, a qualified physiotherapist and one of the best defensive coaches in the world.
“And then in the last six, seven years he has been in many roles in a lot of the teams that I have coached with him. For sure, if I feel the mauling is not good enough, I will step in. If we differ on team selection, we will have a robust discussion to get the best for the Springbok team.
“If the Springboks don’t win, the buck stops with me. I have to take responsibility. That is how hands-on I will be.”
– Rugby365
Welsh legend Jamie Roberts has joined up with Super Rugby side the Stormers:
Comments on RugbyPass
Quite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
10 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
3 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
2 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
10 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
10 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
3 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
3 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
10 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
44 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
10 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
10 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
10 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
10 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
10 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to comments