Springboks appoint Erasmus’ assistant Nienaber as head coach

South Africa have promoted Jacques Nienaber to replace Rassie Erasmus as head coach following their Rugby World Cup triumph.

Erasmus reverted back to his position of director of rugby after the Springboks lifted the Webb Ellis Cup in Japan last November and will now oversee his former assistant Nienaber.

Nienaber was named as Erasmus’ successor on Friday in a South Africa statement that said the new coaching set-up is “heavily accented on continuity”.

Mzwandile Stick retains his position as assistant coach, with Felix Jones now a European-based coaching consultant.

Deon Davids is the new forwards coach, while Bulls scrums coach Daan Human takes up the same role with the world champions and will also stay on with the Super Rugby franchise.

JUST IN! Springbok coaching team named
Continuity key as experienced Nienaber steps up
Stick, Jones, Davids and Human to assist

https://t.co/RYvkVnhCdN#StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/drIDqS1DJn

— Springboks (@Springboks) January 24, 2020

Davids replaces Matt Proudfoot, who joined England’s coaching staff this month.

Nienaber described his delight at landing the top job.

“This is a massive honour and responsibility, but I think I have a good understanding of what it entails, especially in this new structure,” the 47-year-old said.

“I’ve worked with Rassie in a coaching capacity for nearly two decades now and we have a very good idea of how each of us thinks, and as I’ll still be reporting to him, our working relationship won’t be changing.

“It’s a big step up for me in terms of carrying the day-to-day leadership role and there’ll be other adjustments, but in many ways, it will also be business as usual.

“We’ve built up a good culture over the past two years and we’ll simply be looking to extend that.”

Erasmus stated: “Jacques is highly experienced and has worked with the Springboks on three separate occasions now so knows exactly what the job is about.

“Jacques will be responsible for the Test match preparation and day-to-day team operations but, as the director of rugby, I will be with the team for the majority of the time and in the coaches’ box with Jacques at matches.”

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