The incoming Jacques Nienaber will bring with him to Leinster the experience of a World Cup winning head coach, the strong possibility of 6-2 or even 7-1 bench splits, and a link to South African stars that may be on the radar of his new side.
Nienaber has yet to join up with the Leinster squad, and there have been no reports of potential signings for the 2024/2025 season.
As such, we are merely speculating as to which players may be available for NIQ slots in a year's time.
23 September 2023; South Africa head coach Jacques Nienaber before the 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool B match between South Africa and Ireland at Stade de France in Paris, France. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
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Trevor Nyakane
Ideally, Leinster will be able to source a top class replacement for Michael Ala'alatoa, who is set to leave for Clermont at the the end of the season.
However, some of the best and most experienced South African talent do not appear to be likely options.
The Springboks' first-choice tight-head, Frans Malherbe, has recently signed a new contract with the Stormers until 2026, and given that he is a one club man, it is unlikely that he will want to up and move anytime soon.
Thomas du Doit is starting his first season with Johann van Graan's Bath, with World Cup winning prop, Vincent Koch, replacing him at the Sharks.
The less internationally experienced Wilco Louw would have been an ideal replacement, but he has also just begun life with his new club, the Bulls.
5 November 2022; Trevor Nyakane of South Africa before the Bank of Ireland Nations Series match between Ireland and South Africa at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
This leaves Trevor Nyakane, the man who finished out the recent World Cup final win over the All Blacks.
He currently plies his trade with Racing 92, who bought out his contract with the Bulls - which lasts until December 2023 - in 2021.
This leaves a convenient gap for a possible move to Japan from December to May, before Nienanber could get in his ear and lure him to Dublin.
He will be 35 by then, and possibly too old, but Leinster are very much a win now side, and a short-term contract for one last hurrah could be a possibility.
Lood de Jager
Leinster do have Jason Jenkins on the books, but it is unclear whether he will remain at Leinster next season, with no shortage of potential South African stars to replace him should he leave.
De Jager missed the World Cup with a minor heart condition, but would likely have partnered Eben Etzebeth - whom he started the 2019 World Cup final with - in the row had he been fit.
He is currently gearing up for a second season with Japanese outfit the Saitama Wild Knights, but players do not tend to stay too long in the Japan Rugby League One.
A three-man combo of himself, James Ryan, and Joe McCarthy would as good a depth chart as we have seen at second-row for an Irish side.
10 November 2017; Assistant coach Johann van Graan, centre, with Lood de Jager, left, and Franco Mostert during the South Africa rugby captain's run at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Franco Mostert
Mostert has been involved in the last two World Cup finals, starting the latest one and playing most of South Africa's win over England in 2019.
32-year-old is vastly experienced, with 72 international caps, and stints with Gloucester, the Golden Lions, and the Bulls.
He is currently playing his rugby in Japan with the Honda Heat.
Jesse Kriel
With Charlie Ngatai turned 33 in August, that ever present NIQ utility back spot at Leinster could be freed up in the near future.
Kriel played a starring role in the World Cup win, with his defensive performances epitomising Nienaber's blueprint and style.
He is another that is playing his rugby in Japan, but could be tempted to experience the famed environment at Leinster, where competing for trophies every year is a given.
However, with the rise of Jamie Osborne and Liam Turner, and the likes of Ciarán Frawley and Jimmy O'Brien adept at centre, there remains the question of whether Leinster need him, and whether the move would be approved by the powers that be.
None the less, it would be an incredible signing.
5 November 2022; Jesse Kriel of South Africa during the Bank of Ireland Nations Series match between Ireland and South Africa at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
RG Snyman
We know Snyman is on the market, with sources saying that South African clubs are keen on signing him, while there will surely be French and Japanese clubs sniffing around.
Snyman's horrendous injury record makes him a massive risk, but all Leinster need are his services at the tail end of the season.
You could argue that even if he were to only come off the bench for 30 minutes in a Champions Cup final and have a match winning impact, then the money would have been well spent.
With the likes of Jason Jenkins, BJ Botha, and Alby Mathewson before him, there is history of NIQ players moving between the provinces.
28 March 2023; RG Snyman during a Munster Rugby squad training session at Thomond Park in Limerick. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
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