Nienaber sheds light on Flannery's Bok past
SPOTLIGHT: Former Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber knows first-hand the value that Jerry Flannery can add to the Springbok squad.
Flannery and Tony Brown were unveiled as the Boks’ new assistant coaches last week, with Rassie Erasmus taking over the head coach role once again.
Erasmus, Nienaber and Flannery all worked together at Munster between 2016 and 2017.
The former Irland hooker was always in Rassie’s sights when Nienaber announced that he was leaving the Boks after the World Cup.
Flannery, who was Harlequins’ defence coach, even spent time with the Bok coaches ahead of last year’s World Cup in France.
“I coached with him when we were at Munster,” Nienaber told the Irish Independent newspaper.
“Obviously he would be very familiar with the way that Rassie would do stuff because it will be very similar to how we did things when we were at Munster.
“Jerry actually spent some time with us in the World Cup preparation.
“He was there a week or two with the Boks. He understands how the environment operates and the players would know him.
“They met him for the week or two that he has been there. He won’t be unfamiliar to them.
“He actually helped us a little bit with the hookers. He added value with the line-out throws, him being an international hooker himself.
“Just adding things that he saw and I’m not saying it took over from there and all that, but it just added value.
“It’s a good opportunity for Jerry and I think he will be good for the Boks.”
The story continues below…
Nienaber is confident that both Flannery and Brown will fit seamlessly into the Bok set-up.
“I think both of those appointments, him and [attack coach] Tony Brown, are excellent appointments. They will add value to the team.
“When we did our club visits of the abroad players, Harlequins was one of the clubs that we visited.
“They were always open to us being there, so watching their training sessions, gym sessions, being in their team meetings.
“I saw a lot of Jerry’s work as a defence coach there and I think he will be a good fit for South Africa.”
