Jacques Nienaber Springboks

SA Rugby dropped a bombshell on Saturday when it confirmed that Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber will be quitting the role. Photo: Dirk Kotze/Gallo Images

Springbok latest: Jacques Nienaber’s coaching career on thin ice, could he face the axe soon?

Jacques Nienaber is under tremendous pressure to produce a string of good results for the Springboks or he could find his way on the chopping block!

Jacques Nienaber Springboks

SA Rugby dropped a bombshell on Saturday when it confirmed that Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber will be quitting the role. Photo: Dirk Kotze/Gallo Images

Jacques Nienaber is under tremendous pressure to produce a string of good results for the Springboks or he could find his way on the chopping block!

READ | SPRINGBOKS: THREE PLAYERS JACQUES NIENABER SIMPLY HAS TO DROP MOVING FORWARD!

Nienaber has produced a shocking 36% win rate (since Rassies suspension in November). Producing just four wins in 11 Test matches since Rassie Erasmus was suspended in Twickenham, according to SARugbyMag.

These are simply unacceptable numbers as Bok coach. To make matters worse, he has now lost three test matches this year including a historic first-ever home loss to Wales, an unexpected home defeat to NZ (as a result of shocking team selection) and now a deflating loss to the Aussies. A further defeat in the Rugby Championship should see SA Rugby really looking at their options.

READ | ICYMI: ALL BLACKS LEGEND DAN CARTER TO COACH FUTURE SPRINGBOKS IN SOUTH AFRICA

NIENABER TO FACE THE SPRINGBOK AXE?

jacques nienaber rassie erasmus
The Wallabies will host the Springboks in Round 3 in this season’s Rugby Championship in Adelaide on Saturday, 27 August. Photo: SA Rugby website

Just a few weeks ago, Ian Foster was seemingly close to facing the axe after a home series loss to Ireland and a resounding 26-10 defeat against the Springboks. He saved himself with a massive 35-23 bonus point victory over the Boks at Ellis Park.

However, Foster is still not safe after suffering a shock 25-18 home defeat against Argentina – another historic home defeat.

READ | SPRINGBOK LATEST: NIC WHITE’S BIO HILARIOUSLY CHANGED TO ‘MOFFIE THAT IS SCARED OF FAF”

NIENABER AWARE OF THE PRESSURE HE IS UNDER

Nienaber openly admitted to the level of pressure on a coach at this level. Explain how a couple of losses at this level will put your job on the line.

“If you are a coach or a player you are two poor games from being dropped, and you are two poor games away from being fired. That is the reality and one lives with that.” Nienaber confirmed on SARugbyMag.

READ | SPRINGBOK FANS TAKE SHOTS AT PAUL WILLIAMS!

Another defeat will see him being watched like a hawk. It would see the Boks comfortably at the bottom of the Rugby Championship, something that will not be accepted, especially going into the Boks Rugby World Cup defense in France next year.

It’s really do or die for Nienaber and the Boks. Their entire Rugby Championship is at stake, as well as Nienaber and the Bokke’s reputation. Possibly his job, he knows he cannot finish last and he has to win these last three Test matches against Australia and Argentina away and Los Pumas at home.

READ | DIABOLICAL KIWI REFEREE PAUL WILLIAMS SHOULD NEVER OFFICIATE AGAIN!

He also has the legendary Erasmus breathing down his neck. Nienaber’s reputation as Bok coach was honestly saved by the Boks’ British & Irish Lions series triumph early in his coaching career. Added to that, their emphatic 26-10 win over the All Blacks in Nelspruit. However, besides that, the Boks have been well below-par and have looked a shadow of their former selves. Something has to change – and fast!

Nienaber has made 8 changes to the Boks side set to take on Australia in Sydney with some long overdue calls finally being made! He is diffusing the core of the Bomb Squad from the start with Malcolm Marx and Steven Kitshoff finally starting!

READ | EXCLUSIVE: WAS NIC WHITE GUILTY OF GAMESMANSHIP OR CHEATING?

Hopefully, they can inspire the Boks to end 9-year drought in Australia and save Nienaber before it’s too late.

Do you think Nienaber should be axed or should he stay on until the 2023 Rugby World Cup? Let us know in the comments below!