Former coach backs Irishman to take Springboks to new heights

Former Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber has backed Jerry Flannery to fulfil the defensive coach role with aplomb.

Nienaber believes that Flannery will slot right into Rassie Erasmus’s new coaching structure, being familiar with the DoR from his time at Munster.

Irish coach backed for Springbok success

The coach was quizzed on Flannery’s appointment during a Leinster press conference ahead of the resumption of the URC.

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“Obviously, he would be very familiar with the way that Rassie would do stuff because it will be very similar to how we did things when we were at Munster. Jerry actually spent some time with us in the World Cup preparation. I think he was there a week or two with the Boks,” Nienaber explained.

“He understands how the environment operates and the players would know him. He won’t be unfamiliar to them. He actually helped us a little bit with the hookers. He added value with the line-out throws, him being an international hooker himself.

“Just adding things that he saw.”

Smart recruiting

Nienaber feels that the appointment of Flannery and New Zealander Tony Brown are smart pieces of business by the Springboks.

He said: “I think it’s a good opportunity for Jerry, and I think he will be good for the Boks. 

“I think both of those appointments, him and Tony Brown, are excellent appointments. They will add value to the team.

“I think he will be a good fit for South Africa.

“When we did our club visits of the abroad players, Harlequins was one of the clubs that we visited. They were always open to us being there, so watching their training sessions, gym sessions, being in their team meetings.

“I saw a lot of Jerry’s work as a defence coach there and I think he will be a good fit for South Africa.”