Jacques Nienaber’s Leinster future in doubt after confession in blunt interview

With one-year left on his contract, Nienaber is under pressure following the aftermath of the Blue's third Champions Cup heartbreak in as many seasons.

The South-African coach led his country to their fourth ever World Cup glory in 2023. However, the 53-year-old's fabled blitz defence has yet to yield Leinster their coveted fifth star.

When asked by media yesterday if he would be staying on the coaching-staff for next season, Nienaber seemed to point the finger towards the nature of the press.

The senior coach said: “Let me put it this way, do you know who fires you? The public, the media, they fire you.

“Not the CEO, Shane Nolan. He doesn’t fire me, but you guys fire all coaches because the pressure builds up and builds up, the fan then builds the pressure on them and then they just say, ‘Listen lads, I think we must part ways’.

“That’s because of pressure put on CEOs by the boards, by people listening.

“Let’s say the board member has dinner with his mates and his friends, and they go, ‘Sheesh, you signed a deal with the devil, man, you need to get rid of that devil, he’s killing Irish rugby”.

“Then he goes, ‘Maybe they’re right’, and that’s how you get fired."

Nienaber finished with a harrowing confession: "So your question is, listen, am I going to be here? I hope so. Currently I’m not sure, to be honest, because people don’t value me here. They don’t.”

However, despite understanding the implications caused by the press and supporters on social media, Nienaber doesn't believe he has lost the dressing room.

“The moment you lose the changing room or the club’s fan-base, you’ve got to go,” he said. “You could just hang there and take your cheque, but no. They don’t want you there.

“I say I can only fight through results, can’t I? I’m asking, am I that bad."

Leinster host Stormers this Saturday in the URC semi-final at the Aviva Stadium. Nienaber and manager Leo Cullen will be hoping to put themselves one-win-away from consecutive URC titles.