Jacques Nienaber: Munster group ‘special’

As far as defence coach Jacques Nienaber is concerned, his new charges at Munster already have the right attitude. His job is to nurture it and make it thrive.

For a South African who turned his back on a lifetime’s role with his home union to coach overseas, there must have been a fair amount of trepidation as Nienaber, 43, left his new home in Limerick at the start of pre-season and prepared himself for the possibility that he had dragged his wife and children 10,000 kilometres north of their comfort zone on a fool’s errand.

Fortunately for a coach regarded as one of the best defensive strategists in the game, brought in by the province’s first director of rugby and fellow South African Rassie Erasmus, Nienaber believes his new venture is starting on the right footing, with the Munster squad possessing the necessary character and fortitude on which any defensive system relies.