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Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth He says Jacques Nienaber It was a popular choice as the new head coach among the players.
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Nienaber, formerly the team’s defense guru, assumed the responsibilities of head coach of Rassie Erasmus, who has moved into the background to focus on his role as director or rugby at SA Rugby.
In an interview with Netwerk24Etzebeth said he has no doubt that all the players from last year’s World Cup winning team would have chosen Nienaber as the new coach.
“Jacques is my coach. So any player will have to be careful what they respond to!” Etzebeth chuckled, before adding: “But I can honestly say that all 31 boys in that group would have mentioned Jacques’s name if they will be asked who the next Bok coach should be, ”said Etzebeth.
Erasmus and Nienaber have a long history, having first met in the military before crossing paths in the Shimlas team at the University of the Free State, where Nienaber was the physiotherapist and Erasmus the captain.
When Erasmus became coach of Free State Cheetahs, he appointed Nienaber as strength and conditioning coach, with the latter shifting his focus to the team’s defensive structures.
Nienaber followed Erasmus to the Stormers and also Munster in Ireland, before starting at the Springboks in 2018.
“He worked with Rassie for a long time and knows exactly what it takes to be a head coach. Since I started working with Jacques at the Stormers in 2012, it was amazing to me how he brought out the best in the players. His defense strategies are on another level, “added Etzebeth.
Etzebeth, currently practicing at the French club Toulon, returns to South Africa when rugby takes a break due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The portly blockade said in an interview over the weekend that it was “grateful” to its French club for allowing it to return home before South Africa entered a 21-day blockade.
The 28-year-old has been in the Toulon books since last year, and played for the Stormers between 2012 and 2019.
The World Cup winner has played 85 tests since making his international debut against England in Durban in 2012.
– Compiled by Herman Mostert
