'Priceless': All Black Rieko Ioane gives his take on Nienaber's coaching
SPOTLIGHT: All Black and Leinster utility back Rieko Ioane opened up on his experience being mentored by former Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber.
Ioane joined Leinster on a sabbatical for the 2025/26 United Rugby Championship season, following in the footsteps of national teammate Jordie Barrett, who helped end the Irish giants’ three-year title drought in the tournament.
Nienaber joined Leinster after the Boks defeated the All Blacks in the 2023 World Cup Final – a match Ioane played, but now they are in the same camp.
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Ioane was lyrical about his experience being coached by Nienaber, describing him as “priceless”.
“It’s my first time being coached by a South African, and I’ve enjoyed Jacques, although some of the stuff he says I can’t really understand,” Ioane told the Irish Times.
“I’ve loved having him as a coach, and he’s priceless in this environment, his passion for defence, something I pride myself on.
“He just loves it, and honestly, you’d get him in a room, and he could talk for two hours about one instance, and how willing he is to make the players and the team better is awesome.”
Ioane will return to New Zealand at the conclusion of Leinster’s URC season ahead of the Nations Championship and Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour to South Africa.
The Irishmen aren’t having it all this way this season. They’re currently fourth on the URC table and fighting for a home quarterfinal spot.
Leinster, however, will turn their attention to the Champions Cup this weekend, where they’ll face Edinburgh in Dublin.
The Irish powerhouse will look to bag their fifth star since last winning the tournament in 2018.
