CALVIN NASH SMILES as he recalls his first time sharing a Munster dressing room with the current Ireland captain.
“First impressions of Pete… I was absolutely terrified, to be honest,” Nash says. “It was so scary. I felt like, ‘Jesus, it’s Peter O’Mahony,’ y’know? He obviously is such a leading presence.
“But you get to know Pete, he gets the piss taken out of him 24/7, he’s a gas man. And look, I’m obviously delighted to be up in the camps and get to know him way more. He’s a great father and a great person as well and we’re lucky to have him in the Irish system.”
Nash is as uncertain as anybody else as to how long that will remain the case. Without being asked directly about O’Mahony’s future, the Limerick native broaches the topic of the Ireland skipper’s prospective retirement by adding simply: “If I know Peter, I’m sure he’ll put Irish rugby ahead of himself.”
Either way, Nash has at least gotten to share two trophy-winning campaigns — last season’s URC with Munster and this year’s Six Nations with Ireland — with a legend of the game from his native province.
And the likes of O’Mahony are pivotal to the team atmosphere in which the 26-year-old was able to thrive as a fully fledged international this spring.
For Nash, it turns out that his longtime goal of playing for Ireland is even better in reality than it was in his dreams.
“You don’t realise how good craic you have, just to be amongst all the lads,” says the 26-year-old. “There’s such a great buzz going and such a great culture, going forward all the time. It’s always next-job focus and its great to play with a group like that.
“They’re all team players — that’s the best way I can describe it to you. Everyone wants the best for everyone. It’s just an amazing group to be a part of.”
That was exemplified by Mack Hansen last week, who joined up with Ireland in camp and who Nash says was “delighted to see me go well” in the 14 shirt that he’ll try to wrestle back from the Munster man this summer.
Where Hansen has clearly cracked test rugby, Nash feels like he’s getting there.
“Previously in camps, my mind had been so focused on every minor little detail and that probably took away from me actually expressing myself on the field,” Nash says. “And Faz always says that the quicker you can be yourself, the quicker you can start to enjoy it.
“That’s what he drives the whole time: just everyone being themselves and also enjoying the rugby we’re playing. Once you get all over your detail you can enjoy it.”
Did we catch a glimpse of that with Nash’s sumptuous offload from contact into the bread basket of the onrushing Bundee Aki in the first half against Scotland?
“Ah, maybe a bit. I try to do that a bit when I’m not being swallowed up by the big lads. I’m a bit vertically challenged,” Nash laughs.
But having had his first run on Ireland’s right wing, and having enjoyed his first piece of international silverware, Nash is already hellbent on continuing to learn under Andy Farrell, whom he credits alongside Ireland attack coach Mike Catt and Munster equivalent Mike Prendergast as being hugely influential in his becoming a test wing.
“I was kind of shocked with how well Andy handles people in general. He has a great outlook on everything and I feel like he’s probably a bit of a mastermind.
“It’s almost as if he has seen every possible scenario for you. He always has a good answer or good input, you know that kind of way?
“He was unbelievable for me through this whole campaign. He backed me through the whole thing and I just want to say thanks to him. I’ll keep it going hopefully, stay in camps.”
Cork look to be the weakest team going into the Munster Championship this year. I really fear for us. The ground better dry up fast if we’re to have any hope.
Think Tipp will win the AI this year. Only lost to Galway by a point last year and were no where near their best.
Fair play to Limerick for going 10 games unbeaten.
@Munsterman: serious talent on that limerick side. Promising future ahead for limerick hopefully. Always were my second team outside of where im from.
Great win but the best is still to come.
Very hard to predict Tipps championship 15 now. Serious squad
What pissed many of us off was limerick v tipp just after munster v toulon, if the game was played today instead of last night after the munster v toulon game the attendance would have been double, i would have gone to thurles my self today, but no they played the game in thurles on a saturday night, i can not make out weather it was stupid or done on purpose.
@ktsiwot: who’s us? They could have moved the Munster game to today too!!
@Joe Kennedy: The Munster match was watched by millions around the world, I suspect it had more of a pull.
@Munsterman: haha….millions?! There was billions watching the hurling I believe!
@Joe Kennedy: I am from limerick and would have gone to that game if on today, was at thomond for what has an incredible match and atmosphere.
Many I know were in the same situation as well as many I met last night watching the match from both Limerick and Tipp.
They fixed that match last monday, they lost attendance and money, many were discussing it last night and could not get over the stupidity of it.
The majority of people follow all sport and not stuck to a specific mindset.
@Joe Kennedy: yes joe it is a european cup the pop of uk, france and ireland is well over 100 million, it is not stretching it to say a million saw the game. Nearly every one I new saw that match more so than the hurling match which was also brilliant.
@ktsiwot: excuses excuses. I made both comfortably. Even had time to stop in borrisoleigh for a hot chicken roll
@Tadhg Keating: good man Tadhg. Fair play.
@ktsiwot: he said “millions around the world” though!! Three European countries = the World does it?! Doesn’t matter anyway….was just laughing at the exaggeration. I follow all sports myself too by the way. Everyone I knew had no interest in the rugby…..not sure what that’s got to do with anything though!! Finally, as Tadhg said…. you could have made both if you really wanted to anyway no?
@Joe Kennedy: this match was broadcasted all over Europe, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. I’m not at all exaggerating when I said millions watched it.
@Munsterman: haha… ah come off it!! Throw up your source for your stats there! How do you know how many watched it in those countries?!
@ktsiwot: typical privileged rugby fanboy comment. They could just as easily moved the rugby match to Sunday or even Monday but of course no one can even suggest that. The games clash so it’s the GAA’s fault. End of story.
We will win no All Ireland with Barry fullback. He is a disaster, wrong side of his man all night, no idea how to defend and running around in circles. No one else given a chance at fullback apart from Hamill who we also know is too slow. Puckouts major issue aswell, embarrassing watching last night, not 1 Tipp player able to catch a ball, even standing on their own they stick the Hurley up to knock the ball down instead of catching it. Put your hand up for christ sake and catch the ball.
@Wedger: WHEN I PLAYED hurling no one had the nerve to put their hand up.IT WAS FAR TOO DANGEROUS..
@Michael Heery: me too. Many a finger bone popped out of place from getting a smack catching the ball. Miss that on a freezing sunday morning. Used to love getting bones clicked back into place. Seriously tough game! Tipp have some panel. Hard to look past them come business end of the season.