How Jacques Nienaber Says The Springboks Learned To Own Their World Champion Status

Former Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber has always been known for his straight talking, but his latest reflections on the national team cut right to the heart of what makes this era of South African rugby so unique. For him, the Springboks are no longer pretending to be the underdogs. They’ve grown out of that skin and stepped into something far more powerful: the mindset of true world champions.

And according to Nienaber, it didn’t happen overnight. It took failures, stretch goals, a shift in mindset and a group that was willing to stare pressure in the face and greet it like an old friend.

From Turmoil To Triumph

When Nienaber and Rassie Erasmus returned in 2018, South African rugby was in a dark patch. The Boks had endured a string of confidence-shattering defeats, and the public mood reflected it. Few believed a turnaround could come quickly.

Still, something sparked. By the time the 2019 Rugby World Cup rolled around, South Africans were cautiously hopeful, even if the global rugby world still slapped the underdog tag on the Springboks. That label suited the team just fine. It fuelled them. It was familiar.

But the victory in Japan changed everything. Nienaber explains that before that win, only Frans Steyn had experience as a world champion. Everyone else was stepping into new territory.

Understanding What It Means To Be Champions

Nienaber says the 2019 triumph forced the team to ask completely new questions. How do you behave like a champion? How do you prepare when you are the hunted rather than the hunter?

He explains that success becomes a target. Analysts from competing nations study every detail, every weakness, every pattern. Staying still is the quickest route to being overtaken.

That’s why the Springboks had to evolve fast. They had to take risks, try new things and pursue goals so ambitious they weren’t completely sure they could reach them. Some experiments worked. Others failed. All of it, he insists, is part of being at the top.

Being Comfortable With Pressure

For Nienaber, the biggest shift was mental. Moving from underdogs in 2019 to defending champions in 2023 meant changing how the players saw themselves. Suddenly, they pitched up at stadiums as favourites. The expectation wasn’t hope. It was victory.

He describes this as the uncomfortable part of success. Being world champions means failure is always possible and always public. But to keep winning, you need to accept that fear and keep stretching.

That’s where the Springboks have grown the most. Nienaber says he watches them now from Ireland not as a coach, but as a fan, and sees a group that has embraced their identity without losing their humility. They own their world champion status, but they don’t swagger with it.

How South Africans Have Responded

Across social media, fans have echoed Nienaber’s sentiment. Many say they can feel the difference in how the Boks carry themselves. There is pride, but also calm confidence. Supporters often joke that this generation of Springboks looks most comfortable when the pressure is highest.

It’s a shift the country relates to. South Africans know what it’s like to fight from behind, but they’re also learning to celebrate what it means to be the best. The Boks are simply leading the way.

Watching From Afar

Now a senior coach at Leinster, Nienaber admits he views the Boks with the same passion as every South African rugby fan. He’s proud. He’s impressed. And he’s fascinated by how the team has continued to grow long after he stepped away.

He sees players who understand that being world champions is not a label but a responsibility. One they wear with humility, hard work and a belief system that has reshaped South African rugby.

And for him, that evolution might just be their greatest achievement of all.

{Source:SABC Sport}

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