EXCLUSIVE: Former Irish hooker's take on Leinster and Jacques Nienaber

SPOTLIGHT: While the media scrutiny surrounding former Springbok and current Leinster senior coach Jacques Nienaber continues to dominate headlines, sections of the Irish rugby public are concerned about the way he has been treated.

On Monday, the two-time World Cup-winning coach delivered an explosive press conference ahead of Leinster’s United Rugby Championship semifinal with the Stormers.

*Also read: Jacques Nienaber: ‘I don’t think people value me here’

Responding to reporters, Nienaber said he doesn’t feel valued at the Irish province and wouldn’t confirm whether he would extend his contract, casting doubt on his future at the club.

The former Bok coach has faced severe criticism from the Irish media and Leinster supporters since arriving after the 2023 World Cup.

Nienaber has often been made the scapegoat when Leinster have fallen short, and the criticism intensified after the side’s 19-41 loss to the Bordeaux Bégles in the Champions Cup Final a fortnight ago.

Leinster bounced back from that humiliating defeat to beat the Lions 59-10 in the URC quarterfinals last weekend and kept their hopes of a title defence alive.

While many in Ireland have called for Nienaber’s departure, former Ireland hooker Bernard Jackman believes Leinster supporters have failed to appreciate his true value.

“I’ve always been a fan of Jacques [Nienaber],” Jackman told Rugby365.

“I think he’s an amazing human being and coach. The move by Leinster to bring him in was great because he’s a proven winner, having won two World Cups and the British & Irish Lions tour.

“I actually feel sorry for him. People don’t understand his quality, and it’s some people in the media and maybe some of the fans.”

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Jackman, who also represented Leinster during his playing days, believes his former club hasn’t fully backed Nienaber to allow him to operate at his best.

“I listened to his comments, and it looks like he hasn’t been given the full reins and the full power he needs.

“The reality is that in the best coaching environments, everything has to connect and be aligned.

“If you have him as your senior coach, he’s the most proven coach in that room, and everything should be dictated by him, in my opinion, and I’ve said this from the start.

“The players are very fond of him and believe in him, but he feels that the fans or the media are against him, and that’s not good.

“That’s a failing on our part, as people who love Irish rugby. I think we haven’t done right by him and supported him.

“He’s a winner and wants to be in an environment where everything is geared towards winning. I hope we are lucky enough to keep him.”

While questions continue to swirl around Nienaber’s future, Leinster’s immediate focus will be Saturday’s blockbuster URC semifinal against the Stormers.

The Irish outfit heads into the game as favourites and looking to rewrite the 0-35 loss they suffered at the hands of the same opponent in the opening round of the competition in Cape Town last September.

Leinster have been formidable at home this season. The last time they lost a URC match at the Aviva Stadium was in 2023 against Munster.

Despite boasting a healthier record, Jackman isn’t ruling out the visitors.

“Leinster have fallen on the wrong side of tight games in the past,” he added.

“If you are the Stormers, you would want to be close with 10 minutes to go, and that would make them mentally vulnerable.

“The Stormers scrum against Cardiff was strong, and Leinster have struggled against the bigger teams.

“The issue for the Stormers is that they are loose with the ball, and they give the opposition a lot of turnovers.

”If they can be a little bit more efficient and cut out some of the mistakes they make, they can win this game. At the moment, they make so many errors, and Leinster will punish them.”

The Stormers will arrive in Dublin without talisman Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who suffered an ankle injury against Cardiff.

That’s opened the door for Jurie Matthee to start at flyhalf, a change that could benefit Leinster.

“There’s only a handful of players in the world who can do what Sacha can do,” Jackman added.

“It’s a loss for the Stormers but a big boost to Leinster that he’s unavailable, even though there is a lot of quality in that side.

“It’s going to be a fascinating game, and I think Leinster have all the motivation.”