Stormers defensive mastermind could switch

Jacques Nienaber, widely credited as the genius behind the Stormers Investec Super Rugby leading defensive systems, could shift to Pretoria in a high profile move to the Bulls.

Such a move would be something that surely Western Province and the Stormers will try to prevent, considering that they had a running battle with former Springboks coach Peter de Villiers to prevent Nienaber linking up with the national team.

Province’s reasoning was that if Nienaber was sharing trade secrets with test players, then they would take what were Stormers secrets to other franchises.

At this stage Nienaber's contract finishes in October this year.

South Africa’s changed coaching landscape could see further moves.

The Bulls, who ‘lost’ current Springboks coach Heyneke Meyer as their Director of Rugby, are also without their defensive coach John McFarland, forwards coach Johan van Graan, High Performance manager Ian Schwartz and conditioning coach Basil Carzils.

All four backroom members have linked up with Meyer at international level, which means that the Bulls have some glaring holes in their management team.

Supersport.com in South Africa reported that the Bulls have tabled an offer to Nienaber, and if he accepts it would result in one of the most debated coaching switches in the Republic in recent times.

However Springboks Director of Coaching Rassie Erasmus, whose duties were re-iterated to the media by SARU last week, is looking at Nienaber joining up with the test camp in some capacity, with the two having history in their times working together in Cape Town.

It is also believed that Victor Matfield, the Bulls lineout consultant this season, will be promoted into an assistant coaching role, likely to oversee the forwards.

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