Nienaber downplays sledging in Sharks-Munster match
Jacques Nienaber brushed off the idea that Irish rugby players don’t engage in sledging or the sport’s sneaky tactics as much as South Africans do. This came after a fiery URC quarter-final clash where Munster bowed out to the Sharks in a dramatic finish. After a 24-24 draw in regulation and extra time, the Sharks edged it 6-4 in a tense place-kicking shootout.
ICYMI: Ireland seeks goals and revenge against Leinster
Was it gamesmanship or just part of rugby?
One of the most talked-about moments came when Sharks scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse went down with cramp right before Munster’s Jack Crowley was about to take a crucial kick. Hendrikse collapsed near Crowley’s kicking line and even appeared to wink at the Irish fly-half when medics arrived—adding fuel to the “mind games” theory. Crowley still made the kick, but not before a long delay and an exchange of heated words with the Sharks’ medical team.
Nienaber says it’s all part of the game
Nienaber, now with Leinster but previously South Africa’s head coach, knows Hendrikse well from their Springbok days. Speaking to RTÉ Sport, he didn’t seem bothered by the incident, saying moments like that happen all the time especially when you actually listen to the referee’s mic without commentary. He explained that players use every opportunity physically or verbally to get inside each other’s heads, from banter to sly shoves and more.
Irish players aren’t innocent either
When asked if Irish players do it just as much, Nienaber chuckled and brought up a classic example: Peter O’Mahony’s cheeky jab at New Zealand’s Sam Cane back in 2022, when he called him a “s*** Richie McCaw.” “You Irish are masters at it,” he laughed. “You call it craic, right? Trust me, Irish lads never fall short when it comes to a bit of needle.”
Focus shifts to the semi-finals
Looking ahead, Nienaber’s Leinster are set to face Glasgow Warriors this Saturday at the Aviva Stadium. Both sides have grown stronger through the season. Nienaber mentioned that practicing for penalty shootouts has been part of Leinster’s routine for a while not just this week and especially during knockout competitions like the Champions Cup.
He praised Glasgow for their recent form, noting how they pushed Leinster close in their last meeting and demolished the Stormers with five tries. He expects a serious battle and warned that in these high-stakes games, there’s no single area of weakness. “When you get to the semi-finals of any big tournament,” he said, “you know you’re facing top-quality across the board.”
