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    • Page 489

    Rugby World

    Courtney Lawes

    Dylan Hartley: “Courtney Lawes is playing. That means it’s business”

    • October 25, 2019

    Dylan Hartley on the England v New Zealand Rugby World Cup semi-final The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. By rights, Dylan Hartley should have been preparing to face the…

    Jacques Nienaber's journey from physio to Springboks defensive mastermind Sitting at the back of the press conference, Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus idly scrolled through his phone while questions are being fired at others at the top table. In the build up to a Rugby World Cup semi-final against Six Nations Grand Slammers Wales, it is understandable that his focus may be elsewhere. As his assistant coach Jacques Nienaber begins to talk about the pair's relationship, though, Erasmus cannot help but look up. Then he leans forward, his chin almost touching the chair in front of him. "We first met each other a long time ago when we were in the army together," Nianaber begins on the happenstance that led him to Erasmus. "In the army, you get fairly tight and then we went to university together. Rassie stayed on in the army a little longer – he was much better in the army then I was... He was a very good tactician as you can see! "Then we met up again when I was a physio and he was the captain of the varsity team. We got involved in rugby there." This is the bit where you realise that Nianaber, one of the foremost defensive coaches in the world right now first earnt his spurs in the pro game by helping put broken players back together. Earlier, the head coach explained that when he was playing he spent a lot of time talking to Nienaber while on the physio bed. What struck him during those times was the clarity of vision and depth of knowledge from the medic. When he first retired from the game, Erasmus made a point of taking Nienaber with him. "I became a coach as soon as I stopped playing," Erasmus recalled. "I brought Jacques in as a conditioning coach right away. His passion, knowledge and work ethic around defence was evident even back then. He’s very good with people and in terms of communicating what he wants. He gets the message across brilliantly." The pair stuck together. As a coaching ticket, they would run the show at the Free State Cheetahs, the Stormers and Munster. Now they stand side by side, looking at the prospect of a World Cup final, should they vanquish Wales. Nienaber says he is still a physiotherapist, deep down – his wife is a physio and he is still qualified. They practice together. But while it may seem like a side-entry into coaching, Nienaber also believes that he was lucky to transition into defence coaching at a time when too few specialised. He is full of praise for Wales' defensive expert, Shaun Edwards. The coaches have shared a drink, eaten together. There is a mutual respect, Nianaber says. Asked why it still works so well with Erasmus, the Boks defence coach adds: "I think we've been friends for a long time but, as we always say, whenever there's a rugby decision or something that needs to be discussed about rugby between the four lines, we can disagree and get angry with each other. But it's never personal, it's always to make the team better. "We've got a good relationship in terms of that – being friends on one side but also Rassie is my boss. We have that good relationship, we can have a drink together but also when we have to make decisions about rugby, we don't have egos in terms of accepting that we're going to go for this or that route." Erasmus will be in charge of South Africa beyond this World Cup, but with the role of director of rugby. Who steps in to be the next head coach is a matter of intense discussion. But considering the transformation South Africa have made in the last few years under this duo, winning a Rugby Championship and powering to this World Cup semi-final, it would not rock a nation to see this sometime physio land the role. This piece first featured in Rugby world during the Six Nations. Follow Rugby World on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

    Jacques Nienaber’s journey from physio to Springboks defensive mastermind

    • October 25, 2019

    Jacques Nienaber’s journey from physio to Springboks defensive mastermind Sitting at the back of the press conference, Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus idly scrolls through his phone while questions are…

    Five of the Best Rugby World Cup Semi-finals

    Five of the Best Rugby World Cup Semi-finals

    • October 24, 2019

    Ahead of this weekend’s matches, Jacob Whitehead has picked out a handful of super semi-finals

    What’s Hot and What’s Not from the World Cup Quarter-finals

    What’s Hot and What’s Not from the World Cup Quarter-finals

    • October 22, 2019

    Jacob Whitehead reflects on the good, the bad and the downright ugly from the weekend’s last-eight ties

    Eddie Jones claims England training was spied on at Rugby World Cup

    Eddie Jones claims England training was spied on at Rugby World Cup

    • October 22, 2019

    The coach says that they were watched "from apartment block" while they trained

    Handré Pollard wore the wrong jersey

    Handré Pollard wore the wrong jersey in Rugby World Cup quarter-final

    • October 22, 2019

    Handré Pollard wore the wrong jersey in Rugby World Cup quarter-final Some eagle-eyed Springboks fans noticed that fly-half Handré Pollard was wearing a slightly different shirt to his team-mates, as…

    Aaron Wainwright

    The rapid rise of Wales flanker Aaron Wainwright

    • October 22, 2019

    THE RISE of flanker Aaron Wainwright has been meteoric. Having only got into rugby in Year 11 of school, in a few short years he has gone from soccer academies…

    Jaco Peyper causes controversy with fans photo

    Jaco Peyper causes controversy with fans photo

    • October 21, 2019

    France unhappy at the South African referee appearing to replicate red card incident with Wales supporters

    Who has the most red cards at the Rugby World Cup?

    Who has the most red cards at the Rugby World Cup?

    • October 21, 2019

    Who Has The Most Red Cards At The Rugby World Cup? You’ve heard a lot of chat about it. People are joking there have been more cards than Christmas at…

    Rugby World Cup Knockout Stages: Who Is Playing Who

    Rugby World Cup Knockout Stages: Who Is Playing Who?

    • October 20, 2019

    Who has made the quarter-finals? Find out how the final pool games played out and who will face who in the last eight

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    Jonah Lomu

    Remembering Jonah Lomu

    Rugby’s first superstar would have turned 50 this year. The late, great Jonah Lomu was born in 1975 and it…

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