[imagesource: Steve Haag Sports]

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber has some pretty big boots to fill, taking over from Rassie Erasmus, who has now become SA Rugby’s Director of Rugby.

For one, he needs to make sure he delivers some rousing half-time speeches, whenever the Boks return to action, because his predecessor was certainly adept at riling up his troops.

Nienaber was previously the defence coach, so he’s well versed in how things work behind the scenes, and he’s now gone on the record to pinpoint three areas that he wants to focus on.

Speaking earlier this week during a webinar hosted by the Wits Institute for Sport and Health, he said consistency‚ transformation, and building squad depth were vital to ensuring Springbok success going forward.

Below via Business Day:

“We will strive for consistency. To get to the top is one thing‚ but to stay at the top is a tough thing. We want to put out performances that are more sustainable‚” Nienaber said…

“We also want to transform as much as possible. I think everyone could see [that] when this team came back [from the RWC]. I think we are the people’s team. We try and be as diverse and as open as we can. We embrace diversity‚” said Nienaber…

“We want to build squad depth and make the squad bigger. We may have a team that might be‚ and I don’t want to say, ‘too old’ to go to the next World Cup.

“We are looking at guys like Duane [Vermeulen], who may be in the twilight of their career. We must make sure there are plans in place that will fill the voids if those players finish. That will be the challenge for us to create squad depth.”

The biggest series on the horizon is the 2021 series against the British and Irish Lions, which is going to be absolute box office viewing.

Any English and Welsh players will be desperate to avenge their World Cup defeats to the Boks (Owen Farrell is rumoured to be so desperate that he’s considering using his arms in a tackle), and the tour will consist of eight matches altogether.

Five of those will be warm-up games, from July 3 through until July 17, with the three-match test series starting from July 24:

Whilst Nienaber says he is keen to draw on the experience of some former Bok players, he is an example of someone who didn’t play for the Boks breaking through into the coaching ranks:

“I’d say the knowledge and experience that they have will serve them well for the first three or so years. You have to keep up with the game and stay up to date with the trends. If you don’t‚ you will no longer have that edge.

“If you haven’t played the game at the highest level you have to find other ways of getting the players’ respect. Players who have played 80 or 100 Tests for the Springboks will always have that respect. Players will look at that guy and say, ‘this guy has done it’.

“I have to earn that respect with knowledge‚ good work ethic‚ and with being honest.”

Given the heroic defensive effort we saw at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, and especially against the English in the final, I’d say that respect has been earned.

Before you go, watch it again, world champion.

[source:businessday]