Comments about SA taken out of context - Nienaber

Jacques Nienaber insists he is enjoying his time as Leinster senior coach as he clarified comments he made in an interview last month.

Nienaber joined the Irish province in 2023 after leading the Springboks' triumphant Rugby World Cup campaign as head coach and recently extended his contract with the United Rugby Championship holders to the end of the 2026-27 season.

Speaking to SuperSport in the build-up to South Africa's November win over Ireland in Dublin, the 53-year-old said he is happy at Leinster, but misses working with the Springboks when asked about his longer term plans.

But speaking on Monday before Leinster's Investec Champions Cup opener against Harlequins, Nienaber said his comments were taken out of context.

"The whole interview was actually about my time in Leinster and my last two years here and I was very complimentary of Leinster. If you do the due diligence and do yourself the trouble of listening to the whole interview, you'll see the whole context," he said.

"The question was 'how's the job, how's your life in Dublin and I said we really enjoy Dublin. I'm starting my third year. I said at the start of your first year, you start to making friends with your neighbours and making friends in Ireland that you actually go on holiday with."

On life in Ireland, he added: "We really enjoy it. My daughter is over on holidays from South Africa and my son's got one more subject (exam) on 5 December and then he's joining us.

"We're getting the family together over Christmas time and we're really enjoying Dublin. We enjoy the club, I enjoy working with the players. There's a lot of stimulation."

Pressed on his quotes being taken out of context, Nienaber added: "I said my contract with Leinster is until the end of the 2027 season, so that's when my contract finishes.

"I think it's common knowledge, it's in the public domain, everybody knows that."

Nienaber also explained that Anthony Foley's death in 2016 taught him that plans can quickly change.

Nienaber was working alongside current South Africa boss Rassie Erasmus at Munster when head coach Foley passed away at the age of 42. Nienaber and Erasmus returned to South Africa in 2017.

"Then the question was 'what then?' and that's where the Anthony story come up," he added.

"I said 'I don't know, I can't tell you what happens then'. That is what I said. I can't tell you what's going to happen after that."

Nienaber says any decision about his future will be made with his family in mind as he explained his wife is not currently working as a physiotherapist in Ireland.

"I know that I'm the sole provider of my family.

"So if my contract with expires with Leinster, which I enjoy working with, which I love, which is why I extended my contract...if my contract finishes in June or July 2027, whatever is the best for me to provide for my family and that suits my family, I will definitely look at that because I have to provide for my family."