Considering the disappointments they have suffered over the last couple of years, Leinster fans will be massively intrigued to see what impact Jacques Nienaber has on the team's fortunes this season.
The South African arrives at the province with a hugely impressive track record, coaching the Springboks to World Cup glory earlier this year. He was also part of the coaching setup that helped them to the Webb Ellis Cup back in 2019.
South Africa have been known for their uncanny ability to get over the line on the biggest occasion, something Leinster have struggled to do in recent times.
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Jacques Nienaber received plenty of interest before landing Leinster job
Considering the success he has experienced at test level, Jacques Nienaber was always going to be hot property whenever he did opt to step away from the Springboks setup.
Speaking to the media ahead of Leinster's meeting with La Rochelle this weekend, he explained why he felt now was the right time to do so. He also admitted to receiving quite a few other offers before opting to move to Ireland.
I just felt I had lost a lot of time with my family.
That’s why the decision was made in January/February. My wife said, ‘Listen, I don’t think we can do another four years of this’.
The kids said, ‘Dad, we need you at home’ and that’s why when the opportunity came up again with Leinster, I was nervous because I didn’t want to lose that cutting edge, being challenged . . . I didn’t want to lose that because I feel that makes you a good coach...
I explained it like that to Rassie (Erasmus), to our CEO at SARU, I said, ‘Listen guys, this is the decision, this is what I’m going to do’.
They were happy with it. They gave me their blessing and then when the opportunity came up, we announced it as quickly as possible because it was never for me, [that] I didn’t want to work in South Africa anymore.
There were other offers from other internationals. It wasn’t for me to change, to move or to come north, or anything like that. It was just that I needed to get away from international rugby.
Jacques Nienaber has some previous experience in Irish rugby, having spent one year at Munster alongside Rassie Erasmus.
His own reputation has grown quite a bit since then and it will be interesting to see how he fares upon his return to the club scene. He is certainly set up to experience plenty of success at Leinster.
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