Former Springbok captain John Smit believes it would come as no surprise if Jacques Nienaber returned to South Africa to rejoin Rassie Erasmus’ coaching team.
Nienaber has been with Leinster since guiding the Boks to 2023 World Cup glory, but questions have been raised about his long-term future after he recently admitted he had not always felt “valued” at the Irish province.
Although Leinster ended the season by winning the Vodacom URC title, Smit believes a return to the Springboks cannot be ruled out.
“South African fans are probably the greatest conspiracy theorists of all time,” Smit said on The Rugby Pod.
“What you have to realise is Rassie and Jacques started together a long, long time ago with Jacques being the physio and they’ve had a huge history together.
“Have I heard anything officially about it? No. Is it completely out of the question? No. I think it will depend.”
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Smit said Nienaber has faced intense scrutiny in Ireland despite helping Leinster to domestic success.
“When I say that Jacques hasn’t seemed settled, he seems to have done pretty well but I’m looking at it as an outsider into the Irish game.
“Unless he’s winning trophies, he’s having a pretty hard time from the locals and I think that’s pretty much the beef when you’re an international foreign coach in a different country – you’re either winning or you’re a spy.”
While Leinster’s URC triumph has eased some of that pressure, Smit believes Nienaber’s long-term future could still depend on whether he achieves the sustained success he set out to deliver.
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“I do think that Jacques went there with the intention of winning multiple trophies and they’re a team that’s got the potential to do that.
“If he got bombed, would I be surprised to see him in the Springboks set-up? Not at all. It’s where he’s really solidified his coaching career.”
Photo: @Springboks/X
The post Barney: Don’t rule out Rassie, Jacques reunion appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Former Springbok captain John Smit believes it would come as no surprise if Jacques Nienaber returned to South Africa to rejoin Rassie Erasmus’ coaching team.
The post Barney: Don’t rule out Rassie, Jacques reunion appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
