Nienaber said he misses the Springboks while also continuing to love his time coaching at Leinster. So just because I enjoy coaching Leinster players, it does not mean now I don’t enjoy the players of South Africa. “They died for me when I was coaching them, just as the Leinster players die for me when I am coaching them now. Anthony Foley and Jacques Nienaber ahead of a Pro12 game between Munster and Leinster at the Aviva Stadium in October 2016. Photograph: Billy Stickland/Inpho“When the opportunity came to go back to South Africa, we said okay.

Source: The Irish Times December 02, 2025 18:00 UTC