Jacques Nienaber happy at Leinster amid speculation over future
Michael Bolton
Jacques Nienaber says quotes about him missing South Africa were taken out of context, and he is happy at Leinster.
Nienaber was a key part of South Africa's management team, which won the 2019 World Cup, and was head coach for the 2023 World Cup triumph in France before joining Leinster, where he is contracted until 2027.
Days before Ireland's defeat to South Africa, Nienaber was interviewed by the South African TV company SuperSport.
In the interview, Nienaber said, "I miss the Springboks. I really miss the group, and one never knows."
However, Nienaber said the context of the answer was based on his time in Leinster so far, and dismissed it he was preparing to go back to the Springboks.
"The whole interview was about my time in Leinster. I'm starting my third year at the end of your first year, and you're starting to make friends with your neighbours.
"You start making friends in Ireland that you can actually go on holiday with. That's where we are as a family, and we really enjoy it. My daughter is over on summer holidays, my son has one more subject (exam), and then he's joining.
"We're getting the family together over Christmas time, and we really enjoy Dublin and the club. I enjoy working with the players, and there is a lot of stimulation.
"Then I said that it's not to say that because I enjoy Leinster that I don't enjoy South Africa or I don't love the Springboks. I still love the Springboks, and I enjoyed my time there.
"It doesn't sound like because I enjoy it here, I dislike what I did there. That was the whole thing, that was the comment.
"I get used to it now, people just taking the 'I really love the Springboks' (line), and they just go onto that."
The Leinster coach said the death of Anthony Foley put life into perspective for him.
Nienebar worked alongside current South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus at Munster from 2016 to December 2017.
"The passing away of Axel taught me the lesson that you can't plan too much in the future," he continued.
"We came over here in 2016, Rassie and I. You only have now. When Axel passed away, it hit me like a ton of bricks in the face - you only have now.
"When the opportunity came, and they asked us to go back to South Africa, we thought we're only going to go back for [2017] if we were good enough and coaching well enough, and there was an opportunity.
"You think you plan your life and it's going to be perfect - 'I'm going to do this at that age, and then I want to be there' - but then life happens, reality hits you.
"Somebody at the age of 42 passes away next to you the day before a game, and then you know you've only got now, so you can't plan what will happen in the future."
When further asked if he would return to South Africa in 2027 when his contract expires, Nienabar said: "I can't tell you what happens then, that is what I said. I can't tell you what's going to happen after that.
"I'm the sole provider of my family. If my contract expires with Leinster - which I enjoy working with, which I love, that's why I extended my contract - but if my contract finishes in June or July 2027, whatever then is up (available) that's the best for me to provide for my family and suits my family, I will definitely look at that.
"Because I have to provide for my family. There's nobody else who provides for my family.
"My wife is not working. She can't work as a physio in Ireland because there are enough physios here. It's on the red list, or whatever they call it. She's a dependent on me.
"My two kids are studying, they're not working, so I must get a job. So hopefully I get a job after my contract expires with Leinster."
Leinster get their European campaign underway this weekend against English side Harlequins, who they defeated in the last 16 last season.
So far, Leinster have lost three games already this season, including at home to Munster, and several players were part of the Ireland squad, which had a mixed November series.
However, with Leinster rarely at full strength so far this season, Nienabar looks at this weekend's game as a fresh start.
"If you think now we haven't seen each other for quite some time, you know, and even the lads who were on the British and Irish lines, I walked out with Sheehan to the training pitch. And my question was, Do you know how many times, how many days I've coached you this year? And the answer was this, 12. This would be number 13.
It's exciting that we get the band together again, you know? So there's lots of excitement. So now it's a new competition. It's nice to have everybody back in the building. I would say, we're probably kicking off our season"
