'It’s a bit of that winning mindset': Leinster can't wait for Nienaber's arrival
SPOTLIGHT: Leinster head coach Leo Cullen is eagerly awaiting the arrival of Jacques Nienaber as the Irish Province are hoping he might be the missing link.
The outgoing Bok head coach and Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus guided the Springboks to another World Cup title over the weekend with a 12-11 win over the All Blacks in the Final.
It was back in April when Leinster announced that Nienaber would be joining them after the World Cup and now Cullen wants some of that success to trickle down to his team
“That’s the hope, obviously,” Cullen told Irish media this week.
“I hope everyone is adding in some positive way. That’s the whole point of being here. You’ve got to be able to add to the team.”
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Cullen believes that Nienaber can help his team evolve in Europe.
“We’ve been in contact a lot in the past few weeks, with Elmarie, his wife, as well. They’re excited about it, it’s a different challenge for them. It’s a nice fit, I feel.
“Maybe it surprised a few people at the time it was announced seven or eight months ago. But I’m excited about how it all might blend together.
“I’m not quite sure exactly how it is all going to blend together. But we’ll figure it out as we go.”
Cullen added: “We just need to get it right on the day. Not just part of the day, but all of it. That was the initial conversation with Jacques. It’s a bit of that winning mindset.
“Hopefully that will be a big addition for us, for our guys. It’s a different voice for the group and again, it’s just the evolution of our players that have come through the similar-type systems.
“To experience something completely different, a different way of looking at the same game. I think it will hopefully be a positive piece.
“They do things slightly differently. Like there’s beauty in simplicity. The majority of their game, there is a simplicity to the way they play the game. Which is good.
“Because the game has to be based on strong fundamentals and all the rest. There are always little things they will try to push the boundaries on, in terms of law or how they interpret different things. They are a creative bunch and it is a phenomenal success that they have had.’
Source: Irish Independent
