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Stephen Nell
Cape Town – Grey College has produced some big rugby names, but who would have thought that one of the “crocks” from their seventh team would have played a key role in the Stormers’ revival?
With the Stormers having conceded only 59 points and five tries in six matches thus far, defence coach Jacques Nienaber is an unsung hero.
Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské last week said that the Stormers are leading the way in defence in the Super 14.
Nienaber is humble about what has been achieved to date, but ascribes the early success to the team ethic rather than just his contributions.
“I see myself a facilitator rather than a coach. You have to be able to evolve with the team and I am learning a lot from the senior players. Jaque Fourie and Bryan Habana, for example, are constantly coming up with new ideas,” he says.
“I can’t teach Jaque Fourie anything about defence at outside centre. It’s the same with Bryan. Both are World Cup winners.
“Jaque, for example, is a natural, but keeps working hard at his game.”
Nienaber quotes the Stormers’ motto – “as a team” – as one of the keys to their early success on defence.
“There is a strong work ethic. If a tackle is missed, the players see it as the team’s miss rather than blaming an individual.”
There is nevertheless a strong introspective approach behind the scenes. Every player’s attitude in the tackle is measured and can speak to Nienaber about his individual performance in that aspect.
“We don’t work on analysis of opponents that much. We rather focus on our own game,” says Nienaber.
“I look at every facet of defence. The players are measured and get the results. The team works very hard off the field. My role is mostly one-on-one sessions where the players can come and talk about the game and their mistakes.”
Nienaber has come a long way with Western Province director of coaching Rassie Erasmus. They met as national servicemen in Bloemfontein in 1991.
Erasmus already started doing the Cats’ statistics in 1999. Nienaber was their physiotherapist and his interest was stimulated there.
He also took on board some tips from Australian defence consultant Les Kiss when he worked with the Cats.
Nienaber was lured to WP as a conditioning coach in 2008 and sees his work as a continuation of what was started by Erasmus and Brendan Venter.
On the surface it appears a remarkable progression for someone who has not played rugby at a high level and started as a physiotherapist. However, Erasmus believes it was a natural progression for Nienaber.
“As a physio Jacques worked with the players and that is where they open up. His personality is also the sort that the players take easily to,” says Erasmus.
Nienaber realises that humility is important, especially as the challenge ahead is not easy.
“We will be faced with new attacking challenges and conditions on tour,” he said.
Cape Town – Grey College has produced some big rugby names, but who would have thought that one of the “crocks” from their seventh team would have played a key role in the Stormers’ revival?
With the Stormers having conceded only 59 points and five tries in six matches thus far, defence coach Jacques Nienaber is an unsung hero.
Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské last week said that the Stormers are leading the way in defence in the Super 14.
Nienaber is humble about what has been achieved to date, but ascribes the early success to the team ethic rather than just his contributions.
“I see myself a facilitator rather than a coach. You have to be able to evolve with the team and I am learning a lot from the senior players. Jaque Fourie and Bryan Habana, for example, are constantly coming up with new ideas,” he says.
“I can’t teach Jaque Fourie anything about defence at outside centre. It’s the same with Bryan. Both are World Cup winners.
“Jaque, for example, is a natural, but keeps working hard at his game.”
Nienaber quotes the Stormers’ motto – “as a team” – as one of the keys to their early success on defence.
“There is a strong work ethic. If a tackle is missed, the players see it as the team’s miss rather than blaming an individual.”
There is nevertheless a strong introspective approach behind the scenes. Every player’s attitude in the tackle is measured and can speak to Nienaber about his individual performance in that aspect.
“We don’t work on analysis of opponents that much. We rather focus on our own game,” says Nienaber.
“I look at every facet of defence. The players are measured and get the results. The team works very hard off the field. My role is mostly one-on-one sessions where the players can come and talk about the game and their mistakes.”
Nienaber has come a long way with Western Province director of coaching Rassie Erasmus. They met as national servicemen in Bloemfontein in 1991.
Erasmus already started doing the Cats’ statistics in 1999. Nienaber was their physiotherapist and his interest was stimulated there.
He also took on board some tips from Australian defence consultant Les Kiss when he worked with the Cats.
Nienaber was lured to WP as a conditioning coach in 2008 and sees his work as a continuation of what was started by Erasmus and Brendan Venter.
On the surface it appears a remarkable progression for someone who has not played rugby at a high level and started as a physiotherapist. However, Erasmus believes it was a natural progression for Nienaber.
“As a physio Jacques worked with the players and that is where they open up. His personality is also the sort that the players take easily to,” says Erasmus.
Nienaber realises that humility is important, especially as the challenge ahead is not easy.
“We will be faced with new attacking challenges and conditions on tour,” he said.
