Scrum-half Cobus Reinach expects the Springboks to continue to thrive under Rassie Erasmus over the next four-year cycle.

In addition to serving as South Africa’s director of rugby, the 51-year-old has taken on the additional responsibility of head coach when Jacques Nienaber left.

After their Rugby World Cup victory, Erasmus told local media that he will replace Nienamber, albeit this has not been formally announced by SA Rugby.

Akin to 2019

He will therefore reprise the roles he held leading up to and during the 2019 global tournament, where he was both director of rugby and head coach.

Erasmus is still very much in command at the moment, however it is unclear if that will remain the same for the upcoming four-year cycle.

Reinach is thrilled that the former Munster manager has assumed greater responsibility and made the important decision that Erasmus and Nienaber represent the greatest teams South Africa has ever had.

It’s fantastic. In terms of coaching partners, Rassie and Jacques were arguably the best in South African rugby history. He told Midi Olympique, “It was amazing how well they prepared for matches.

It is the best thing that could have occurred to South African rugby, and I am extremely glad that Rassie is still in control of the Springboks.

“He will continue to build on the two world titles, and keep South Africa on the top step of world rugby.”

Reinach started four games during South Africa’s World Cup victory, including the quarter-final and semi-final wins over France and England respectively.

But as the half-back approaches 34 in February, Erasmus might want to consider younger alternatives in the future.

However, the gifted playwright maintains that he still feels fresh and that he plans to play more.

Reinach stated that he is “happy” in France and that his body is holding up well while discussing his future at Montpellier.

“I still have one year left on my contract after this season. It’s still too early to discuss my future, but I’m really happy here,” he stated.

Either way, my wife and I are thrilled to be here. And until my body tells me to stop, I want to keep moving forward. It instructs me to proceed as of right now.

Going from World Cup to club

Since the World Cup, Reinach has started every game for Montpellier, and he claims that adjusting to club rugby following the excitement of the international competition has not been too difficult.

“Although it sounds strange, this isn’t all that different. The key is to always work extremely hard,” he continued.

“With the Springboks, people just witnessed our successes; however, we put in a ton of work behind the scenes, and it was never simple.

I usually had to put in a lot of effort and fast adjust to the surroundings when I traveled to Montpellier. You need to contribute to the team, fulfill your share of the workload, and play to the best of your abilities.

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‘He never became the title’ – Ex-Springboks boss provides insight into humble Siya Kolisi

Jacques Nienaber, the head coach of the Springboks who won the Rugby World Cup, claims that captain and international star Siya Kolisi “hasn’t changed” in spite of his success and notoriety.

In addition to becoming one of the greatest players in the world, the 32-year-old has taken on the role of rugby ambassador for both South Africa and the game in general.

After leading the Boston Breakers to consecutive Rugby World Cup championships in 2019 and 2023, Kolisi is perhaps the most recognizable face in the sport.

First black captain

When the flanker took on the leadership role in 2018, he became the country’s first black captain and, as it transpires, their most successful one too.

Nienaber has been a huge part of Kolisi’s career having first coached him when the forward was a teenager, watching with interest and pride at how the back-rower has grown as both a player and a man.

“Siya I started coaching when he was 19 in the Western Province academy,” the former Springboks head coach told The Good, The Bad and The Rugby podcast.

“Siya hasn’t changed, he never became the title. Siya is Siya Kolisi and then you get Siya the Springbok rugby player and the World Cup-winning captain.

“Siya always stayed Siya; he never became Siya the captain of the Springbok World Cup.”

Since then, Nienaber has split ways with SA Rugby, resigning from his position as head coach of South Africa following the World Cup to take a position at Leinster under Leo Cullen.

This implies that the 51-year-old will never again collaborate with this specific set of players, but it is a period of his life that the defense maestro will always cherish.

The former Stormers and Munster coach praised number eight Duane Vermeulen in particular, but he also mentioned how humble the team remained as a whole.

Growth of the squad

You inquire as to the greatest. What is the one thing I will always treasure and remember? The players never lived up to their titles.

“I have collaborated with Duane Vermeulen for 17 years, starting in 2006, and throughout that time, Duane has always been Duane. He never changed from being the guy who went from the pumas to the cheetahs.

The good thing is that I got to know them when they were young, when they were mischievous and single, and later when they were married and had children.

When I’m old, grey, and trembling in front of the fire, I’m sure that witnessing the players’ development will be the thing that sticks in my memory.