IRELAND WILL have a huge gap to fill when Andy Farrell departs for the Lions Tour in 2025.
Farrell will take a hiatus from the Ireland job at the end of this year and will return after the Tour in Australia.
Suggestions have come from all areas over what to do with the vacant role while Farrell is on Lions duty.
The 2025 Six Nations will see a new face temporarily take charge of Ireland and Leinster fans have offered up a left-field solution.
One fan, Karl Brophy, tweeted: “Given that he’s effectively their employee the IRFU should have Jacques Nienaber coach Ireland for next year’s Six Nations during Andy Farrell’s sabbatical.
“Leinster can take him back in March.”
Nienaber joined Leinster as a senior coach after helping South Africa reach World Cup glory once again.
The suggestion that he could take the reins at Ireland for the competition next year brought mixed reactions from other fans.
One replied: “He took the job at Leinster to get away from the demands of test rugby. He’ll be back with the Boks when his contract ends ready for the three-peat…it’s been alluded to.”
While the debate remains over whether Nienaber would step up to the role, there looks to be no doubt that he has the quality to do so.
The South African has had a huge impact on Leinster and this was shown in full effect against La Rochelle on Saturday.
Leinster ran out 40-13 winners to progress to the Champions Cup semi-finals – ending their knockout turmoil against Ronan O’Gara’s side.
The back-to-back European champions were humbled by the province, failing to trouble the scoreboard after the restart.
James Lowe grabbed tries in either half with Jamison Gibson-Park, Ryan Baird and Dan Sheehan also crossing the whitewash to book their side’s place at Croke Park.
The hosting of La Rochelle by Cork Constitution ahead appeared to get under the skin of Leo Cullen.
But, even if the Leinster coach thought it was more an attempt at mind games than because of practical considerations, it did not seem to faze his players.
They found themselves 23-6 and 30-13 ahead either side of the break.
Given they had been 17-0 and 23-7 ahead only to lose 27-26 against the same opposition at the same venue in the competition final less than a year ago, they knew better than to take anything for granted.
But, this time around, there was no spectacular collapse, no easing off the accelerator to allow the visitors to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.