Brian O’Driscoll issues scathing criticism of Jacques Nienaber’s ‘problematic’ defence which is ‘not serving Ireland well’
Ireland legend Brian O'Driscoll and Leinster senior coach Jacques Nienaber.
Ireland legend Brian O’Driscoll is the latest to criticise Jacques Nienaber’s impact on Leinster and question whether his defensive system suits the province.
After a difficult start to the season, which saw three United Rugby Championship (URC) losses in four games, they find themselves in a better position.
Eight successive victories have propelled them into contention in both the URC and Investec Champions Cup, but doubts still linger about their performances.
Their latest triumph saw them overcome La Rochelle at the Aviva Stadium, but it took a last-gasp penalty for them to maintain their winning run.
Frustrated O’Driscoll
Leinster looked particularly fallible defensively last weekend, and O’Driscoll, who did not hold back, is getting increasingly worried about their rearguard under Nienaber.
“Even after eight victories in a row, and it feels weird to criticise a team like that, I’m increasingly nervous around the defensive system,” he told Off The Ball.
“When we get to the quarter-finals, but more so semi-final and final, there’s huge vulnerability there.
“There are a couple of factors at play. I’ve never been convinced by it, I don’t think we’re big enough collision winners like the South Africans are to be able to stop the off-load.
“I think they’ve got it down to a tee because of their physicality and because of their system set-up.”
O’Driscoll admitted injuries have played a part, but whatever the reasons are for their struggles, he is concerned Leinster will see a repeat of last season.
“Some of the personnel and injuries have really not helped as well. Rieko Ioane has never played in a system like that at all, plugging in the last couple of months trying to make it work,” he said.
“Garry Ringrose’s loss there is really significant; he leads all of that. The wingers with Josh Kenny coming in for his first European start.
“There are so many factors at play here that I really fear what Northampton did in the semi-final could happen again.
“As much as their stats will show their scramble managed to get us back in the game, it was too frantic and too frenetic.
“The inaccuracies of La Rochelle more than the defence from Leinster resulted in those chances not being taken.”
Issues for Ireland
There could also be a knock-on effect for Ireland in the Six Nations, according to O’Driscoll, with Leinster forming the core of the national team.
“There were a couple of one-on-one defensive errors which you just can’t have, and you can’t bring that into the Six Nations,” he added.
“This defensive system is problematic for Ireland because they have to go and undo it all. It’s very difficult to flip from one to the other.
“Your process is totally different, your decision-making is totally different, and it doesn’t serve Ireland well.”
