Nienaber et l'innovation qui a permis de battre les Bleus
L’ancien sélectionneur des Springboks, Jacques Nienaber, a évoqué la façon dont Felix Jones, l’actuel entraîneur de la défense de l’Angleterre, a illuminé l’attaque de l’Afrique du Sud à France 2023.
Jones, qui a rejoint les Boks en tant que consultant de la défense en 2019, était en charge de l’attaque des doubles champions du monde. Au lendemain de la finale gagnée en octobre dernier face à la Nouvelle-Zélande, les deux hommes ont pris des directions différentes.
Nienaber est désormais l’entraîneur en chef de la province irlandaise du Leinster, succédant à Stuart Lancaster parti au Racing 92, tandis que l’Irlandais Jones occupe désormais le poste d’entraîneur de la défense de l’Angleterre, aux côtés de l’ancienne star du XIII Kevin Sinfield.
Sa ‘blitz defence’ a joué un rôle essentiel il y a quelques semaines lorsque les Anglais ont renversé l’Irlande à Twickenham, privant le XV du Trèfle d’un deuxième Grand Chelem consécutif inédit dans le Tournoi des Six Nations.
Nienaber a évoqué sa relation de travail avec Jones lorsqu’ils étaient tous les deux dans le staff de l’Afrique du Sud et il a fait l’éloge de l’ancien arrière irlandais pour sa créativité qui a joué un rôle important dans la victoire des Springboks sur le pays hôte, la France, d’un point en quarts de finale de la Coupe du monde.
Dans une interview exclusive accordée au Irish Mirror, Nienaber a rappelé la qualité du travail de Jones : « La première chose, c’était sa préparation et son éthique de travail. Il s’assurait que les joueurs étaient préparés et savaient ce qui les attendait.
« Je ne veux pas en dire trop, mais lorsqu’il est arrivé en 2019, il ne nous a vraiment rejoints que pour la Coupe du monde, il nous a rencontrés lors du match de préparation contre le Japon. Les gars ne le connaissaient pas, il a juste participé à la Coupe du monde avec nous et, comme vous le savez, nous l’avons gagnée.
« Ensuite, le Covid a débarqué, puis les Lions britanniques et irlandais en 2021. On a sans doute perdu du terrain à ce moment-là, parce que nous voulions battre les Lions britanniques et irlandais. » Les Springboks avaient toutefois gagné la série deux victoires à une.
« Je dirais que Felix a sans doute pris les rênes de notre attaque en 2022. C’est en tout cas à ce moment-là qu’on a pu se rendre compte de sa créativité dans les choses qu’il voulait mettre en place en attaque.
« Le grand public ne s’en est peut-être pas rendu compte, mais notre jeu a été très créatif sur la fin de l’année 2023. Si vous repensez au quart de finale de la Coupe du Monde, l’Afrique du Sud qui décide de jouer une pénalité rapidement à la main, c’est quand même quelque chose très inattendu », juge Nienaber.
Avant d’aller plus loin : « Pour notre dernier essai, celui d’Eben Etzebeth qui nous a permis de gagner le quart de finale contre la France, il a apporté beaucoup d’innovation. » On le comprend, Jacques Nienaber n’a pas envie d’en dire beaucoup plus. Heureusement, il nous reste la vidéo du match, ci-dessous, et plus précisément de cette action, pour essayer de découvrir les inventions de Jones. A vous de jouer aux analystes vidéo, et n’hésitez pas à poster en commentaires vos trouvailles !
Comments on RugbyPass
A Turtle has more pace and leg drive than Owen Franks, so it’s a good thing he only had to run 90 metres for that try.
2 Go to commentsOh Tamati Tua was in the vastly over-rated Leon MacDonalds Blues system? Well, no wonder he was wasted, much like Emoni Narawa and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens under MacDonald. now look at them. Good thing Tua isn’t eligible, the Aussies latch on to any player who isn’t tied down.
2 Go to commentsMark Telea is a lot of things, but a defensive juggernaut has never been one of them. There will be far bigger tests in that regard for the youngster.
10 Go to commentsLove and respect to Fiji but not a chance outside of 7s
4 Go to commentsGood summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
2 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
1 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
1 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
5 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
45 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
5 Go to comments