VIDEO: Nienaber's bold call on Republic's URC run
Jacques Nienaber has helped secure back-to-back World Cup titles for South Africa, but now he is plotting the downfall of the Republic’s leading candidates for a United Rugby Championship title.
Nienaber is in South Africa with the table-topping Leinster, 20-odd internationals, for URC encounters with the third-placed Bulls (this Saturday) and Sharks (fourth) next week.
Having departed Dublin this past Saturday – the same day as Ireland’s 22-17 win over Italy in Rome – none of the province’s internationals are in Pretoria.
That rules out players like Hugo Keenan, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe, Jamison Gibson-Park, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, James Ryan, Jack Conan, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris, Gus McCarthy, Jack Boyle, Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy and Sam Prendergast.
They will rely heavily on a handful of other internationals – like All Black Jordie Barrett and Springbok RG Snyman.
Nienaber said he is enjoying his stint with the unbeaten Irish province, but makes trips back ‘home’.
“Whenever we [Leinster] have a bit of a break I will pop over to South Africa,” he said, adding that he is going to sit down for a few cups of coffee with some friends in Gauteng.
Looking forward to the encounters with the Bulls and Sharks, Nienaber described it as a ‘nice challenge’.
He spoke of the desire of Irish players to travel to South Africa, using veteran Ireland prop Cian Healy as an example.
The 37-year-old, with 130-odd Test caps, made his first trip to South Africa for the URC semifinal against the Bulls last year.
He made his debut in May 2007 and has since become Leinster’s record cap holder, playing an incredible 287 senior games for his province. The front row forward will retire from the game at the end of the season.
(WATCH as two-time World Cup-winning former Springbok coach and current Leinster senior coach Jacques Nienaber makes a bold call on South Africa’s URC chances…..)
“It is a trip the Irish players look forward to,” Nienaber said, adding: “That is the excitement part.”‘
The Bulls have a good run-in of home games – four of their six remaining league games – against Leinster, Zebre, Cardiff and Dragons, with away games against Munster and Glasgow Warriors.
“It is a nice challenge, a proper test for us,” the two-time World Cup-winning former Springbok coach said.
Given the number of ‘available’ internationals, Nienaber said Saturday’s Loftus face-off will be of Test-match intensity.
Turning his attention to the South African teams – having already beaten the Lions (24-6) and Stormers (36-12) in Leinster – he expected sterner challenges in the Republic.
📍 🇿🇦
Some Thin Lizzy to welcome the players ahead of another day’s training in Pretoria 💪 #NeverLessThanEverything pic.twitter.com/Ic325iBbGN
— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) March 18, 2025
“Both those games [the wins in Dublin] were fiercely contested,” Nienaber said, adding: “Last year, when we played the Stormers and Lions in this [post-Six Nations] block, they put proper scores on us [losing 12-44 at Ellis Park and 12-42 in Cape Town].
“Hopefully we are better prepared this year.
“That is our challenge,” he said – pointing to current Ireland flyhalf Sam Prendergast getting a baptism of fire in the Republic.
“Gus McCarthy, who was the replacement hooker for Ireland in Rome last weekend, made his Leinster debut against the Stormers in Cape Town last year.
“I find them very competitive and it looks like all four the South African teams are on track for a top eight [play-off] finish.”
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