Leinster's Jacques Nienaber rejects Springbok 'master plan' theory

The Leinster senior coach said he was "offended" that his integrity was being questioned.

Asked if he would be at Leinster for the duration of his contract, Jacques Nienaber said: "If they don't fire me? Yes." Pic: ©INPHO/Andrew Conan

Jacques Nienaber has stressed his intention to honour a Leinster contract that runs to the end of the 2026-27 season and insisted that comments made to a South African TV network about his future were taken out of context.

The Leinster defence coach has won two World Cups with his native South Africa and admitted to missing the Springboks during the interview with SuperSport prior to Ireland’s meeting with South Africa last month.

Nienaber also spoke about his commitment to his current job and to life in Dublin, but it was an openness to speculate about a possible return to the Boks when his Leinster contract ends prior to the next World Cup that caught the eye.

So, will he be at Leinster for the duration?

“If they don't fire me? Yes, yeah. I mean, why would I extend my contract?” That extension was signed prior to last summer. Nienaber is starting into his third full year with the province having arrived at the start of December in 2023 and is clearly annoyed by one theory around his presence in Ireland.

“I announced that I'm going to leave the Springboks in March, April 2023. I'm the head coach of the Springboks, I'm supposed to take them to a World Cup. We are supposed to go and defend the World Cup.

“And that's why I don't get that people think this is this master plan. ‘Jacques, let's go and win the World Cup. We send you to Leinster. You get all the information. You come back.’ I mean, how can you in March think we're going to win the World Cup if you are in that pool?

“I mean, it's crazy.” 

He explained how he had addressed his Springbok players two-and-a-half years ago, when news of his next role was announced, and said at the time that he would “work ‘till the blood comes out of my eyes'”.

The same, he said, applies at Leinster.

“So for me that's why I feel offended. I feel, jeez, people don't even know me, but they question my integrity.” 

Nienaber was part of a Munster coaching ticket with Rassie Erasmus that failed to see out its contract. That was in 2017 when the passing of Anthony Foley changed a lot of plans.

As was the case then, there is an exit clause in his contract now that allows either him or the IRFU to end the arrangement with a period of notice if either party should wish.

It was Nienaber who mentioned that standard clause but he stressed his commitment to Leinster and added that he had honoured the commitment to join the club in 2023 after another World Cup win and after which he “probably” had an option to stay at home.

“So I'm not saying I'm a saint in any way, but I feel people don't trust my integrity, and here we are on the eve, on the start of Europe, and you know what, we're talking about Jacques Nienaber's contract.

“I don't know why, but I like it because I've the opportunity to set it straight. But let's go listen to the interview and tell me I said I want to go back to South Africa. Tell me, the whole thing, where does that come out there? How do you get to that conclusion?

“That's what I don't understand.”