Who is the best Springbok coach in history?

There have been four Springbok coaches who have engineered a path to Rugby World Cup glory for South Africa but which boss has the best Test match strike-rate.

Two coaches managed to maintain perfect records as Springbok head honcho but both had relatively short stints in charge.

The most succesful Springbok coaches

Felix Du Plessis coached the Springboks for one match in 1964 in an age where the very notion of coaching was anathema to some in the rugby union community.

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Kitch Christie was given his Rugby World Cup brief in 1994 after Ian McIntosh led the Springboks on a disastrous tour of New Zealand that saw them fail to win a Test. Christie executed that brief expertly, building his team for the Rugby World Cup around a core group of Lions players that he knew well led by Francois Pienaar.

Jacques Nienaber finished his tenure as Springbok with a nice 69% win-rate, which puts him between the likes of Nick Mallet (71%) and Jake White (66%) for context on his overall reign. Mallet’s reign is often under-rated because it appeared to taper off terribly but his role in modernising Springbok rugby is undeniable.

Rassie Erasmus will be the first man in the modern era of the game to return for a second stint as head coach in 2024. His first stint saw the Springboks maintain a 65% win-rate in Test matches.

Springbok coach win-rates

Name	Years	Tests	Won	Drew	Lost	win percent
Felix du Plessis	1964	1	1	0	0	100%
Kitch Christie	1994–1995	14	14	0	0	100%
Cecil Moss	1982–1989	12	10	0	2	83%
Nelie Smith	1980–1981	15	12	0	3	80%
Izak Van Heerden	1962	4	3	0	1	75%
Ian Kirkpatrick	1967, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977	12	9	1	2	75%
Danie Craven	1949–1956	23	17	0	6	73%
Nick Mallett	1997–2000	38	27	0	11	71%
Jacques Nienaber	2020–2023	39	27	0	12	69%
Boy Louw	1960, 1961, 1965	9	6	1	2	67%
Jake White	2004–2007	54	36	1	17	66%
Heyneke Meyer	2012–2015	48	32	2	14	66%
Rassie Erasmus	2018–2019	26	17	1	8	65%
Johan Claassen	1964, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974	21	13	3	6	62%
Peter de Villiers	2008–2011	48	30	0	18	62%
Andre Markgraaff	1996	13	8	0	5	61%
Harry Viljoen	2000–2001	15	8	1	7	53%
Rudolf Straeuli	2002–2003	23	12	0	11	52%
Avril Malan	1969–1970	8	4	2	2	50%
Hennie Muller	1960, 1961, 1963, 1965	16	7	1	8	44%
Allister Coetzee	2016–2017	25	11	2	12	44%
Carel du Plessis	1997	8	3	0	5	37%
Ian McIntosh	1993–1994	12	4	2	6	33%
John Williams	1992	5	1	4	0	20%
Basil Kenyon	1958	2	0	1	1	0%

What Nienaber meant to the Boks

Siya Kolisi has lauded the impact of Nienaber on his own career and the path of the Springboks.

“I was 18 years old. I was contracted with the Cheetahs and then I was able to go to Western Province. That is when I met Jacques,” Kolisi explained. “He and coach Rassie used to come to the institute, the Western Province Academy. That is where our foundation as a group [began].

“When Jacques came it was the full contact there and you had to show who you are. Every time they came it was intense. I got to know him then and as I went on he became my senior coach and one thing I love about him is he goes far deeper than what is happening on the field. He got to know me, my family and why I do what I do.

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Popular coach

“He speaks to us with human courtesy,” said Kolisi of Jacques Nienaber’s manner.

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“They don’t encourage us to tackle hard – we all know what that is. He knows my kids by name, asks me how I am doing as a person and that is why I can go and give him everything on the field because he cares about the person, he cares about Siya from the township. For the teams, especially in big moments, he talks about each and every player’s journey.

“It is so special to be known as a person not just as an object or a rugby player. That’s what he brings to this team. And the fact that he allows families to be around, how much he loves to see our kids running around. I know some teams are not allowed to have families, but that is what he creates, that family environment.

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“I have enjoyed every single year that I’ve worked with him. The tough times too, when he comes and calls me out. He is always honest. I can’t explain how much I have enjoyed it.

“He and coach Rassie [Erasmus] love the country. Wherever he goes, they are going to be lucky. The detail he puts in, it makes life so much easier. All I have to do is watch a screen to see what opportunities are there. He’s a special coach and a special human being, an amazing father and a great husband. I will always be thankful. When I first met him I couldn’t tackle.”