Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

'We've got nothing to hide': Springboks head coach's strong message after media storm

Jacques Nienaber /Getty

South Africa’s coach Jacques Nienaber has taken a not-so-subtle dig at media hacks that have looked to stir trouble for his team.

ADVERTISEMENT

The build-up to last week’s 36-20 win over Argentina in a Rugby Championship Round Five outing in Buenos Aires was overshadowed by the Elton Jantjies saga and on matchday by allegations of drug abuse.

The South African Rugby Union moved swiftly to squash the rumours that ‘several’ Springboks had tested positive for the use of illicit drugs.

Video Spacer

Video Spacer

And the weekend before the Springbok camp also dismissed suggestions of wrongdoing by two members of the squad – Jantjies and team dietician Zeenat Simjee.

The two returned home from the Springboks’ camp in Buenos Aires, after there were reports that the pair had enjoyed a tryst at two guesthouses in the Nelspruit area prior to South Africa’s Rugby Championship campaign.

The off-field issues were again raised this week, as the Boks prepared for their decisive Round Six encounter with Los Pumas at Kings Park in Durban on Saturday.

A frustrated Nienaber said the ‘rugby pressure’ is something the team enjoys.

However, the off-field issues not so much.

“The rugby pressure is always nice,” Nienaber told a media briefing in the build-up to Saturday’s King Park showdown, adding: “That is what you want.

ADVERTISEMENT

“The other pressure, for me, is disappointing.

“We know the truth and we’ve put up a statement with the truth on it,” he said of their September 11 media release that ‘no team protocols were breached’.

“We’ve always said we’re going to be truthful.

“If there’s off-the-field stuff that we can comment on that’s truthful, then we’ll do so.

“We’ve got nothing to hide.

“It is irritating, that [external] noise.”

He said that no coach ever wants that kind of pressure on their team.

“It’s got nothing to do with rugby.

“We do like the rugby pressure and we like that fact that [Saturday’s encounter with Los Pumas] is a final,” he said of the Durban decider.

ADVERTISEMENT

“We like the fact that all four teams are still in it to win it.

“We are going to have an exciting weekend of Rugby Championship action.”

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

S
SK 24 minutes ago
Why England's defence of the realm has crumbled without Felix Jones

The way they are defending is sometime pathetic to be honest. Itoje is usually on the inside of the rush and he is paired with a slower tight forward. Unable to keep up with the rush we have seen the line become disconnected on the inside where the big boys are. How many times have we seen Earl rush past the first receiver almost into no mans land covering no attacker. It looks like a system without any guidance. Tome Wright, Ikitau and a number of Wallabies went back to this soft centre as did Williams, Jordan and several others. Also when the line is broken the multiple lines of defence seems to be missing. The rush is predicated on a cover and recovery system with multiple lines of defence but with England you dont see it any more. Fitness and conditioning seems to be off as well as players are struggling to keep up with the intensity of the rush. Felix Jones has left a huge hole. The whole situation was and is a mess. Why they insist on not letting him go and having him work remotely is beyond me. Its leading to massive negative press and is a hot button issue thats distracting from the squad. Also the communication around Jones and his role has been absolute rubbish and is totally disjointed. While some say he is working remotely and playing a role others are saying theres been no contact. His role has not been defined and so people keep asking and keep getting different answers. England need a clean break from him and need to start over. Whatever reason for his leaving its time to cut the rope before the saga drags the whole Borthwick regime down. As for Joe El Abd well good luck to him. He is being made to look like an amateur by the whole saga and he is being asked to coach a system thats not his and which has been perfected and honed since 2017 by Nienaber, Jones, Erasmus and Co and which was first started by White in 2004. He is literally trying to figure out a system pioneered by double world cup winning coaches at the highest level and coach it at the same time. Talk about being on a hiding to nothing.

24 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Let's be real about these All Blacks Let's be real about these All Blacks
Search