Jacques Nienaber: evolving Leinster still finding their way

"There’s a certain identity or culture of Leinster which is the foundation of the club since 1879," said Nienaber. "You don’t want to lose that, but you also don’t want to stagnate and become a team that’s not looking to evolve and improve."

Leinster have only won one URC title since Jacques Nienaber arrived in late 2023. Pic: Tyler Miller/Sportsfile

Jacques Nienaber admits there is a fine balance to be struck between evolving Leinster’s style in a way that can ultimately deliver silverware while protecting the identity built up at the club over its long and proud history.

The South African’s arrival in Dublin in late 2023 was heralded as a coup when he left the Springboks after two successful World Cup cycles, but the results have been mixed with just one URC title to show for it so far.

The adaptation of a rush defence was a sea change from that utilised under former senior coach Stuart Lancaster, but it isn’t just the mechanics that have altered. Some fear the club’s attacking identity has been lost in the process.

“Unfortunately, sometimes with evolution you have to find your way,” he said. “You make mistakes, you see ‘this is not going to work, let’s try this’. So, from an evolutionary point of view we’re trying to evolve and get better and that’s a balance.

“From a balance point of view, it’s how much do you want to evolve and get better and grow the potential of the team… Let’s use defence as an example. Defensively how much do you want to grow? But also, on the other side not to lose the identity of the team.

“I don’t want to use the word culture, but there’s a certain identity or culture of Leinster which is the foundation of the club since 1879. You don’t want to lose that, but you also don’t want to stagnate and become a team that’s not looking to evolve and improve.” 

Leinster are still on course for two trophies this term. They face Toulon in a home Champions Cup semi-final in two weeks’ time and, before that, a visit to Italy and a URC game against Benetton that they approach from third place in the table.

Nienaber acknowledges the fact that his appointment marked a “big evolution” for the province in the form of a new defensive system that has been unbreachable at times while all too breakable at others.

Dan Sheehan spoke at the start of the year about how, as captain that week, he had put a renewed emphasis on the team’s attack and playing to spaces, and there is clear evidence of Leinster’s work with the ball improving as the spring kicks in.

Taking a 29-0 lead away to Ulster last Friday speaks for that but the concession of three tries inside ten second-half minutes suggests they are still prone to leakages in defence that could cost them on the biggest days.

Nienaber made the point that coaches aren’t the only people who should be open to change.

“There’s examples like Kodak in the past, Blackberry phones… They were leaders in the field, but maybe some strategic decisions not to keep up with trends cost them that position. Sport’s no different, so … you must find the balance between too much evolution.

“That’s just something I believe in personally, but the players agree. It’s not just sport, you come into a group or an organisation and there’s a certain culture. It’s important to make sure that culture isn’t just habits because it suits your style.” 

This is interesting stuff, but does it really tell us anything new about Leinster? Everyone knows they have been looking for that balance, certainly since Nienaber’s arrival, and maybe long before that too.

The priority this week is that visit to Benetton when Leo Cullen and Nienaber will be expected to name a loaded roster having rested the vast majority of their frontline stars for the winning excursion to Belfast.

Caelan Doris, Andrew Porter and Josh van der Flier all missed that outing with injury issues and all three are again in the ‘further assessment required’ category while Ryan Baird isn’t training but is expected back in time for Toulon.

Nienaber is certain they still have room to improve. Beyond that? It’s in the lap of the gods.

“Cheslin Kolbe charged down a conversion to win a World Cup quarter-final. Big moments make or break games. You can call it luck or you can call it a bounce of a ball. You need to play the big moments well and, even when you do, you need a little bit of luck.

“Ja, that’s probably it. Knockouts is knockouts.

“I think people will cringe, maybe I’m using the wrong word from an Afrikaans point of view when I say luck, but you need things to go your way when it comes to calls. Then when it does you need to capitalise on it.

“The harder you work and the more you work as a group, stay connected and believe the more things go in your favour.”