Nienaber responds to Hansen

Springbok boss Jacques Nienaber’s focus appears to be wholly set on the goings-on in the Bok camp and did not take much notice of Steve Hansen’s recent comments, though he has responded. 

Hansen accused both Nienaber and British & Irish Lions coach, Warren Gatland, of ‘playing it safe’ in the recent tour of South Africa and adopting game-plans which are a detriment to rugby.  

 “You’ve got two big packs and two coaches who don’t have any belief in what’s going to happen if they throw the ball around, so they just beat each other up,” Hansen said.  

“‘Let’s slow the ball down, let’s get off our feet, do whatever we can to make sure our defensive line is stable so we can keep battering’.  

“It’s not a game that anybody wants to watch. Yes, we want a good physical contest, that’s what the game is about – physicality, speed, using the ball and skill.  

“Could you say we saw that in that series? Of course we didn’t. And it turned a lot of people off.” 

Strong words from the former All Black boss, but Nienaber appears unfazed. 

“To be honest, I didn't see the comment,” he said, talking to timeslive.co.za. 

“With everything that’s happened regarding quarantine and stuff, doing our reviews and setting our goals for this week, and what we have to produce as a team, I haven’t seen Steve’s comments. 

“For me, it’s like I have said in the past that each team has its own playing style and each squad has its own skills set. Each team will have its own unique DNA and they will play according to what strengthens their DNA. 

“I think that is the beauty of rugby, there are different styles and ways to win matches and obviously you play with what is in front of you and sometimes you have to adapt. I don’t want to go back there continuously, but I said in 2019 we played probably the most exciting and attack-minded team in the form of Japan in the quarterfinals of the World Cup. 

“And then in the semifinals we had to adapt and change again to play against Wales, which was a massive arm-wrestle. And then we played against England in the final, which was probably a blend of Japan and Wales, with their good kicking game and good defence system and they put pressure on you.”