SA RUGBY IN NO RUSH TO REPLACE NIENABER

With Rassie Erasmus there to help out, SA Rugby seems to be doing just fine with the idea that their coach is leaving.

Jacques Nienaber's leaving is not a surprise to anyone. Nienaber is set to join Leinster in the next few weeks after he signed a contract with the Irish club long before the World Cup tournament got underway in France.

With the exception of Nienaber, and Felix Jones taking up a role with the England coaching staff, the other members of the coaching staff are staying.

This includes Deon Davids, Daan Human, Mzwandile Stick and Andy Edwards.

As director of rugby, Erasmus will stay on as coach until SA Rugby has found a replacement for Nienaber. At this stage, it seems as if they don’t have any immediate plans to advertise the role.

Erasmus is contracted with SA Rugby until 2025.

Nienaber wasn’t only the team’s coach, but also the specialist defence coach. With Nienaber leaving, rumours are spreading that Duane Vermeulen will step into his shoes as defence coach.

Vermeulen is set to retire now that the World Cup is over and having played with Nienaber since 2005 and being a specialist in driving mauls, he seems to be the obvious choice.

Image credit: Planet Rugby