Irish Independent rugby writer Ruaidhri O’Connor says Jacques Nienaber’s role as Leinster senior coach has become “borderline untenable”.
Nienaber, who recently extended his Leinster contract through to the end of the 2026-27 season, spoke to SuperSport ahead of last Saturday’s Test between Ireland and the Springboks in Dublin, refusing to close the door on a reunion with Rassie Erasmus.
“So I’ll be out of contract at the start of the international season in the southern hemisphere. You never know how things will work out,” he said.
He added: “I miss the Springboks. I really miss the group.”
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In his Irish Independent column, O’Connor questioned the sustainability of Nienaber’s position within the Irish system, arguing that Leinster players will now be expected to trust a coach who could soon be plotting against them at the 2027 World Cup.
“Jacques Nienaber’s position as Leinster’s senior coach is borderline untenable after the events of last week,” O’Connor wrote. “In many lines of work they’d put a senior figure who expressed his clear desire to go and work for a competitor on gardening leave.”
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He also suggested Nienaber’s recruitment has destabilised the alignment between Leinster and the Irish national team, one of the foundations of Ireland’s success under Andy Farrell.
“From a strategic point of view, the decision to bring in a disruptor to the bulk-supplying province to completely revamp their style of play away from the national team’s style has had a negative impact on Ireland’s performances,” he argued.
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O’Connor wrote that Erasmus appeared to relish the idea of bringing Nienaber back into the Springbok fold after the pair met in Dublin last week – even hinting at possible consulting opportunities before 2027.
He believes the IRFU now faces a difficult decision.
“We know the IRFU has a nine-month break clause in its contracts … maybe it’s time the union acted decisively,” O’Connor wrote. “Erasmus is ruthless … He and his compatriot are taking Irish rugby for a ride and so far nobody is saying stop.”
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