“I’m not sure whether this is my final test with the Boks.” His departure suggests that he might return.

Coach Jacques Nienaber is leaving the Springboks to take a new role at Leinster, a major team in Ireland, but he has made hints that he might return to the green and gold in the future.

The defense guru significantly altered the Bok lineup yesterday in preparation for tomorrow’s World Cup final at the Stade de France versus the All Blacks.

Manie Libbok and Cobus Reinach are replaced at halfback by Handré Pollard and Faf de Klerk, with Willie le Roux the only back on the bench.

But Nienaber may have chosen more Bok teams in the future.

It’s humorous. Yesterday, the head coach thought about it while going for a run in the morning.

“I worked as a defense consultant for the Boks for a while in 2011.” It was incredible playing seven games with the Springboks.

“I had only played three Test matches with the Boks in 2016 after I was given another chance with them, but I had already signed with Munster.”

“I assumed that was it when I departed for Munster, but then we returned to 2018.”

The idea is that you cannot predict the future. That is my perspective. I don’t feel anything. I’m not sure if this will be my final Test match against the Boks.Though life has its own ways, you can plan as much as you like. Destiny follows its own path.

“I just want you to play the game with the mindset that every day could be your final one as a member of the team. I simply savor every second of it. I linger here and take pleasure in the players.

“I’ve been in this situation twice and felt like this is it—I’ll never be here again. Look at where we are now.”

Nienaber talked about his memories of the 1995 final with New Zealand while he was talking about nostalgia.

“I have vivid memories of it. I recall that following the win, we were all rejoicing in the streets. I was in Bloemfontein attending university. A year or so ago, I watched it once more.

The way the game has evolved is incredible.

“That game included, I believe, over 80 kicks. They also engaged in some leather ball activity. There were a lot of distinctions back then because there was no lifting in the line-outs.

The game has undergone significant alteration. There was less than 24 minutes of ball in play. It was set-piece after set-piece, with hardly any rugby.

“The game has improved significantly since then, but I still think that match was incredible.”