All Blacks star raves about former Springbok coach

The qualities of former Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber have once again been highlighted by a leading All Blacks player.

Mar 31, 2026 - 15:00
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All Blacks star raves about former Springbok coach

Ever since Jacques Nienaber left the Springboks after successfully leading the team to the 2023 World Cup title, there have been plenty of calls among South African rugby supporters for Rassie Erasmus to find a way to bring him back into the coaching team.

Nienaber has been a huge hit at Leinster, and he does appear to be fully committed to this continued role after signing a new deal that will keep him at the Irish club as a senior coach until 2027.

The popular coach has often received high praise from various roleplayers at Leinster, and All Blacks star Rieko Ioane is the latest international star who has effectively reminded the Springboks about the qualities of their former coach.

“It’s my first time being coached by a South African, and I’ve enjoyed Jacques, although some of the stuff he says I can’t really understand,” Ioane told the Irish Times, making a wry joke clearly in reference to Nienaber’s accent.

“I’ve loved having him as a coach, and he’s priceless in this environment, his passion for defence, something I pride myself on.

“He just loves it, and honestly, you’d get him in a room, and he could talk for two hours about one instance, and how willing he is to make the players and the team better is awesome.”

Jacques Nienaber won’t return to Springboks before next World Cup

During an interview towards the end of last year, Nienaber already said he was extremely happy with his current job position, and that he had needed a change from the rigours of international coaching.

“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.”

Erasmus makes another new appointment

On Monday it was confirmed by SA Rugby that Welshman Joe Lewis would be joining the Springbok management team in the role of performance analyst.

“We are delighted to welcome Joe to the Springbok team,” said Rassie Erasmus, Springbok head coach. “Given his vast experience in technical and performance analysis at international and club level, we believe he will add great value to the squad as we prepare for a busy and exciting season, and further ahead to the 2027 RWC,” said Erasmus. 

“His roles have seen him gain invaluable experience at the highest level of the game – at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, in the Six Nations competition, and Autumn Nations Cup, among other big tournaments, and we have no doubt he’ll slot into our set-up seamlessly.”

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