Boks will not win 2027 World Cup without Jacques Nienaber

Rassie’s Boks will not win the 2027 World Cup if Jacques Nienaber is not part of the management, writes Mark Keohane.

Nienaber is what is missing with the Boks.

Nienaber is the anchor and counter to Rassie Erasmus.

Rassie and Nienaber are like Batman and Robin, but for those who did not quite know the importance or value of Robin, you should know it now.

Nienaber and Erasmus have been a rugby couple for an eternity. They are such opposites, but combined they are the ultimate rugby coaching couple.

Erasmus has always had the headlines. Nienaber has always been comfortable to ride in the side cart, as he has been with Leinster, since joining the coaching staff.

Leo Cullen is the said Messiah at Leinster, but Nienaber is the World Cup-winning coach. Cullen had not gone beyond a World Cup quarter-final with Ireland as a player and as the top dog at Leinster has had indifference in all competitions in the past three seasons.

Nienaber, the Springboks World Cup-winning coach, was so bereft of ego that he was willing to join Leinster immediately after the 2023 success as part of the support staff to Cullen.

WOW, that tells you everything about the quality of the individual.

Erasmus, for all his innovation, genius, however mad at times, needs Nienaber sitting next to him.

Nienaber will stay in Ireland until June, 2027, to get his Irish passport as a support to his South African passport. It is a decision bigger than coaching rugby, but he will be available to be a part of Erasmus’s bid for the Boks to win an unprecedented three successive World Cups.

I believe the Boks are missing Nienaber’s defensive mindset, his personality and his structure in a big way.

Zels, my mate on the Keo & Zels show agrees.

Zels is the biggest admirer of Nienaber and especially Nienaber, Rassie and the Boks as a trio.

Here’s what he had to say when I asked him if we are missing Nienaber.