Jacques Nienaber has received a ringing endorsement from Rieko Ioane, with the All Blacks centre praising the former Springbok boss’ influence at Leinster.
Nienaber’s defensive blueprint has come under scrutiny in Dublin, with some suggesting Leinster have lost their attacking edge since the departure of Stuart Lancaster. But Ioane – currently adjusting to life in Ireland – insists the South African has been a major asset.
“It’s my first time being coached by a South African and I’ve enjoyed Jacques, although some of the stuff he says I can’t really understand,” he joked.
“I’ve loved having him as a coach, and he’s priceless in this environment, his passion for defence, something I pride myself on.
“He just loves it, and honestly, you’d get him in a room and he could talk for two hours about one instance, and how willing he is to make the players and the team better is awesome.”
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Ioane’s comments come amid a mixed spell for the 88-Test All Black, who has yet to consistently hit top gear since his move to Dublin.
“It sucks not playing, but I always kept an open mind. I was confident in my ability to cover wing and I was super confident in my ability to cover midfield,” he said.
“That’s where I want to play. That’s where I want to be while having the ability to cover both… It was disappointing, but you can’t drop your lip. You’re still an All Black, whether you’re in the 23 or not.”
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