Lions scrum coach Julian Redelinghuys says “it’s terrible to see” the criticism Jacques Nienaber has received in Ireland.
No sooner had Leinster lost 41-19 to Bordeaux Bègles in the Investec Champions Cup final in Bilbao than the finger of blame was pointed at the former Springbok coach.
Irish Independent chief rugby correspondent Rúaidhrí O’Connor wrote that the “Jacques Nienaber experiment has failed”.
Nienaber has been criticised often since joining the Irish club as senior coach – under head coach Leo Cullen – after the 2023 World Cup.
Some have questioned whether Leinster sacrificed their attacking identity in favour of a more Springbok-style approach under the South African, while others claimed Leinster’s defensive system had become “easy to penetrate” when physical dominance and line speed dropped off.
Speaking ahead of the Lions’ URC quarter-final against Leinster in Dublin on Saturday, Redelinghuys said Nienaber was unfairly being used as a scapegoat.
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“Everything is Jacques’ fault, it’s terrible to see,” Redelinghuys said.
“We all know the quality coach he is and the value he adds. It seems the people on this side do not appreciate it. In the team, they do, but it doesn’t look like the Irish supporters do, with all the things you see and hear and how they throw him under the bus by blaming him.
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“Apparently, he is not allowed to breathe in the coaching box. There are a lot of ugly things.
“However, we’ve worked with him and know what he can do and who he is. We do not doubt the quality he brings to Leinster, but it doesn’t look like the Irish appreciate him.”
MORE: Lions look to Bordeaux blueprint
Rúaidhrí O’Connor: Leinster’s Jacques Nienaber experiment has failed and they look in need of a reboot from top to bottom https://t.co/wK5txz6COi
— Rúaidhrí O’Connor (@RuaidhriOC) May 23, 2026
Photo: Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images
The post Lions defend Nienaber amid ‘ugly things’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Lions scrum coach Julian Redelinghuys says “it’s terrible to see” the criticism Jacques Nienaber has received in Ireland.
The post Lions defend Nienaber amid ‘ugly things’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
