Ireland insist they haven’t copied Jacques Nienaber’s famed Springbok defence, but there’s no denying the former Bok coach’s fingerprints sit deep within the Irish system.
Andy Farrell has pushed back at the idea that Ireland, through their Leinster-heavy squad, have absorbed a South African-style blitz. Leinster’s defence under Nienaber is undeniably more aggressive, while Ireland’s Test shape remains more “square”, as Farrell puts it.
But familiarity is still information, and Ireland know it.
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Leinster wing Tommy O’Brien says the exposure to Nienaber’s methods offers a subtle but meaningful advantage heading into Saturday’s showdown.
“There’s an air of familiarity from playing in Leinster, and playing and training against the defence that South Africa do regularly,” O’Brien said. “Jacques Nienaber would have been the one implementing it … there are a few tweaks, but the basis of it is quite similar to what we do.
“Year-round in Leinster you’re training against similar pictures to what we’re thinking we’re going to face this week. There’s a lot of linespeed, a lot of pressure. It’s just about knowing how you’re going to beat that.”
That insight couldn’t come at a better time. The Springboks are in Dublin high on confidence: back-to-back Rugby Championship titles, two gritty wins with 14 men over Italy and France, and the ominous feeling of a team evolving towards another World Cup cycle.
Even their occasional misfires – like the stumble against the Wallabies at Ellis Park – haven’t softened the perception of South Africa as the sport’s benchmark side.
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O’Brien sees the innovations too.
“They’ve lost games in between their World Cup wins but that’s maybe down to some of the innovation they’ve tried … you can see that with some of the benches they’ve used.
“They’re not afraid to try a few things. But the nuts and bolts of South African rugby has always stayed the same – hugely physical, they work unbelievably hard, they’re very passionate.”
Ireland, meanwhile, are chasing a fifth win in six Tests against the Boks.
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