Leinster senior coach Jacques Nienaber is expecting a “proper Test match-intensity game” when he reunites with a former colleague at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
Just before moving to these shores in 2016 to work with his fellow countryman Rassie Erasmus at Munster, Nienaber found himself alongside Johann van Graan as part of South Africa’s coaching set-up for a compelling three-Test summer series against Ireland.
When Nienaber and Erasmus returned to the South African system in 2017, Van Graan subsequently took over from the latter as Munster head coach and remained there until assuming the reins of current English Premiership table-toppers Bath in 2022.
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Despite earlier defeats to La Rochelle and Benetton, last Sunday’s triumph over Clermont keeps the Somerset-based side in contention for a Champions Cup knock-out spot in advance of their Pool Two final round clash with Leinster in the Aviva this weekend.
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“The challenge for us this week is Bath are putting up scores on average just shy of 40 points, so it’s going to be a massive test for us defensively to try and keep them at bay,” said Nienaber.
“They’ve got a very good squad with experience across the board and then they are also the stingiest team in the Premiership. They don’t concede points. They score the most and concede the least, so it’s going to be a big challenge if you think they are two different competitions. Premiership leaders versus URC leaders. It’s going to be a proper Test match-intensity game. Tactically, physically. That’s what I expect.”
In addition to his side already being assured of a home draw in the Champions Cup round of 16 in advance of Saturday’s fixture – albeit the Blues will be looking to extend their unbeaten run in all competitions this season to 13 games – Leinster head coach Leo Cullen will be greatly encouraged by the latest squad update.
As well as Tadhg Furlong, Jack Conan and Ciarán Frawley all coming through last weekend’s win away to La Rochelle with flying colours, James Lowe, Will Connors and Dan Sheehan are all due to step up their respective rehabilitations this week and will be further assessed before a final decision is made on their availability for the Bath game.
Sheehan, in particular, is making excellent progress from the anterior cruciate ligament injury he sustained playing for Ireland in last July’s tour of South Africa.
While this has raised the possibility that the hooker could feature in the upcoming Six Nations, Nienaber acknowledged it remains to be seen if this will be the case.
“I don’t know, to be honest. I’ll put myself in the Springboks [position], as an international coach who probably would like to see him get through a game. Not necessarily always. I mean, things change. If you pick up an injury, you might just throw him in straight away. So, I don’t know. I’m not sure,” Nienaber added.
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