REVEALED: Springboks' new scrum coach
NEWS: Bulls scrum coach Daan Human has been appointed as the new Springbok scrum coach.
Human will take over from Matt Proudfoot, who has left South Africa to become the new England forwards coach.
Although yet to be confirmed by SA Rugby, Cheetahs have officially released a statement congratulating Human on his new appointment.
“Free State Rugby is incredibly proud of another top coach from the Cheetahs who has been appointed by SARU,” the statement read.
“Daan Human, a former scrum coach and former Cheetah player has now been appointed by SARU as the new Springbok scrum coach,”
The 43-year-old played for the Stormers before heading to French Top 14 club Toulouse where he made 169 appearances. He also has four caps for the Springboks.
He was the scrum coach of Cheetahs before being loaned to the Bulls during their 2019 Super Rugby season.
According to AFP Jacques Nienaber is poised to take charge of world champions South Africa this month despite never playing first-team rugby nor being a head coach.
Now 47 years-old, he was a loose forward for the fourth team at his Bloemfontein school and, after switching to inside centre, the third side at university.
As a coach, Nienaber has always been part of the backroom staff of departing Springboks boss Rassie Erasmus, working with him in South Africa and Ireland.
Nienaber was the defence coach of the Springboks when they won the World Cup a record-equalling third time last November by defeating England 32-12 in the final in Yokohama.
Erasmus quit as head coach post after that triumph to concentrate on his South African director of rugby role, which places him in charge of all national male and female teams.
Erasmus hastily assumed the head coach post in 2018 to speed up the revival of a South African team reduced to a laughing stock after a string of humiliating losses.
He has made no secret of his admiration for Nienaber, a former physiotherapist and conditioning coach, who has worked with Erasmus for almost two decades.
“I began coaching almost immediately after retiring and immediately brought Jacques on board as the conditioning coach ,” former Springbok loose forward Erasmus told AFP.
“His passion, knowledge and work ethic around defence were evident from the start. Jacques deals brilliantly with people, getting messages across clearly.
“He is a wonderful person and, if chosen, would be a great replacement. From physiotherapist to Springboks head coach – what a story.”
The respect is mutual with Nienaber describing as “great’ a relationship that has taken them to the Free State Cheetahs, Stormers, Munster and the Springboks.
“Our partnership does not end when we leave the rugby field – sometimes we have a meal and a drink together,” he told AFP.
The other two assistants to Erasmus – Mzwandile Stick and Ireland-born Felix Jones – are expected to be offered new contracts.
Jones was a late addition as a consultant ahead of the World Cup and is now set to be given a full-time position.
Deon Davids is a possible newcomer as the Springboks prepare for at a 12 or 13-Test season, starting with a July 4 home fixture against Scotland.
Davids is highly rated by Erasmus despite being sacked by the Southern Kings after they won only three of 42 Pro 14 matches over two seasons.
Asked by AFP when the new head coach would be named, a South Africa Rugby spokesman said “soon” without elaborating.
Source: AFP
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