Jacques Nienaber was named as the new Springbok coach on January 24 as part of a revised coaching panel that will report directly to Rassie Erasmus, South Africa’s director of rugby.
Nienaber is promoted from an assistant coach’s role to carry the day-to-day responsibility, while Erasmus will continue to direct strategy in tweaking of a panel that is heavily accented on continuity.
Mzwandile Stick has been reappointed as an assistant coach, while, in an innovative inclusion, Felix Jones will continue, but in a new role as a European-based coaching consultant.
There are two new appointments, with Deon Davids appointed forwards coach, while Daan Human, the Vodacom Bulls’ scrum coach, takes up the same role with the Springboks on a shared basis.
The appointment of Nienaber underlines a commitment to continuity, with the vastly experienced understudy to Erasmus promoted to the headline role, although the director of rugby would still carry the responsibility for Springbok performances.
“Nienaber is highly experienced and has worked with the Springboks on three separate occasions now, so he knows exactly what the job is about,” said Erasmus.
“Nienaber will be responsible for the test match preparation and day-to-day team operations, but as the director of rugby I will be with the team for the majority of the time and in the coaches’ box with Jacques at matches.”
“I’ll still be responsible for the strategy and results, with Jacques taking operational control. The structure allows the director of rugby to spend more time on other aspects of the role,” said Erasmus.
Nienaber said, “This is a massive honour and responsibility, but I think I have a good understanding of what it entails, especially in this new structure.
“I’ve worked with Erasmus in a coaching capacity for nearly two decades now and we have a very good idea of how each of us thinks, and as I’ll still be reporting to him our working relationship won’t be changing.
“It’s a big step up for me in terms of carrying the day-to-day leadership role and there’ll be other adjustments, but in many ways it will also be business as usual. We’ve built up a good culture over the past two years and we’ll simply be looking to extend that.”
The Springboks will defend their Castle Lager Rugby Championship title in 2020 and the British and Irish Lions will arrive in 18 months.
The Springboks play their first match as reigning Rugby World Cup champions against Scotland on July 4.
