Four Springbok coaches have engineered a path to Rugby World Cup glory for South Africa but which boss has the best Test match strike-rate.
Two coaches managed to maintain perfect records as Springbok head honcho but both had relatively short stints in charge.
The most succesful Springbok coaches
Felix Du Plessis coached the Springboks for one match in 1964 in an age where the very notion of coaching was anathema to some in the rugby union community.
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Kitch Christie was given his Rugby World Cup brief in 1994 after Ian McIntosh led the Springboks on a disastrous tour of New Zealand that saw them fail to win a Test. Christie executed that brief expertly, building his team for the Rugby World Cup around a core group of Lions players that he knew well led by Francois Pienaar.
Jacques Nienaber finished his tenure as Springbok with a nice 69% win-rate, which puts him between the likes of Nick Mallet (71%) and jake White (66%) for context on his overall reign. Mallet’s reign is often under-rated because it appeared to taper off terribly but his role in modernising Springbok rugby is undeniable.
Rassie Erasmus will be the first man in the modern era of the game to return for a second stint as head coach in 2024. His first stint saw the Springboks maintain a 65% win-rate in Test matches.
Springbok coach win-rates
| Name | Years | Tests | Won | Drew | Lost | win percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Felix du Plessis | 1964 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| Kitch Christie | 1994–1995 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| Cecil Moss | 1982–1989 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 83% |
| Nelie Smith | 1980–1981 | 15 | 12 | 0 | 3 | 80% |
| Izak Van Heerden | 1962 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 75% |
| Ian Kirkpatrick | 1967, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977 | 12 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 75% |
| Danie Craven | 1949–1956 | 23 | 17 | 0 | 6 | 73% |
| Nick Mallett | 1997–2000 | 38 | 27 | 0 | 11 | 71% |
| Jacques Nienaber | 2020–2023 | 39 | 27 | 0 | 12 | 69% |
| Boy Louw | 1960, 1961, 1965 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 67% |
| Jake White | 2004–2007 | 54 | 36 | 1 | 17 | 66% |
| Heyneke Meyer | 2012–2015 | 48 | 32 | 2 | 14 | 66% |
| Rassie Erasmus | 2018–2019 | 26 | 17 | 1 | 8 | 65% |
| Johan Claassen | 1964, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974 | 21 | 13 | 3 | 6 | 62% |
| Peter de Villiers | 2008–2011 | 48 | 30 | 0 | 18 | 62% |
| Andre Markgraaff | 1996 | 13 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 61% |
| Harry Viljoen | 2000–2001 | 15 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 53% |
| Rudolf Straeuli | 2002–2003 | 23 | 12 | 0 | 11 | 52% |
| Avril Malan | 1969–1970 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 50% |
| Hennie Muller | 1960, 1961, 1963, 1965 | 16 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 44% |
| Allister Coetzee | 2016–2017 | 25 | 11 | 2 | 12 | 44% |
| Carel du Plessis | 1997 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 37% |
| Ian McIntosh | 1993–1994 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 33% |
| John Williams | 1992 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 20% |
| Basil Kenyon | 1958 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0% |
What Nienaber meant to the Boks
Siya Kolisi has lauded the impact of Nienaber on his own career and the path of the Springboks.
“I was 18 years old. I was contracted with the Cheetahs and then I was able to go to Western Province. That is when I met Jacques,” Kolisi explained. “He and coach Rassie used to come to the institute, the Western Province Academy. That is where our foundation as a group [began].
“When Jacques came it was the full contact there and you had to show who you are. Every time they came it was intense. I got to know him then and as I went on he became my senior coach and one thing I love about him is he goes far deeper than what is happening on the field. He got to know me, my family and why I do what I do.
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Popular coach
“He speaks to us with human courtesy,” said Kolisi of Jacques Nienaber’s manner.
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“They don’t encourage us to tackle hard – we all know what that is. He knows my kids by name, asks me how I am doing as a person and that is why I can go and give him everything on the field because he cares about the person, he cares about Siya from the township. For the teams, especially in big moments, he talks about each and every player’s journey.
“It is so special to be known as a person not just as an object or a rugby player. That’s what he brings to this team. And the fact that he allows families to be around, how much he loves to see our kids running around. I know some teams are not allowed to have families, but that is what he creates, that family environment.
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“I have enjoyed every single year that I’ve worked with him. The tough times too, when he comes and calls me out. He is always honest. I can’t explain how much I have enjoyed it.
“He and coach Rassie [Erasmus] love the country. Wherever he goes, they are going to be lucky. The detail he puts in, it makes life so much easier. All I have to do is watch a screen to see what opportunities are there. He’s a special coach and a special human being, an amazing father and a great husband. I will always be thankful. When I first met him I couldn’t tackle.”
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