IT’S BEEN A frustrating start to the season for Isa Nacewa, but the Leinster captain hopes his injury problems are behind him as he wins his 175th appearance for the province when the Dragons visit the RDS this evening [KO 7.35pm/TG4].
Nacewa has missed two separate chunks of the campaign but makes his comeback when the Guinness Pro14 resumes later as Leinster look to get back to winning ways against Bernard Jackman’s visitors.
Defeat to Glasgow Warriors in the final game before the November break sees the eastern province sit third in Conference B with Leo Cullen yesterday admitting his side can ill-afford to lose any further ground on pacesetters Scarlets.
Although his hand has been forced somewhat by injuries and players on international duty, Cullen has mixed youth and experience with Nacewa’s return a timely boost ahead of the Champions Cup double-header next month.
The 35-year-old had only returned from the calf injury he sustained in South Africa before picking up an ankle problem in the win over Montpellier in October, an issue which forced him to have surgery.
The dreaded syndesmosis injury — which has now forced Nacewa, Josh van der Flier, Dan Leavy and Barry Daly to go under the knife already this season — kept the back out of action for a period of six weeks.
“I hate being injured. I hate sitting on the sidelines. It’s really good to be back,” he says.
“It [syndesmosis] is the flavour of the month and has been for a while. It is very simple surgery, from what I’ve heard. It takes seven or eight minutes and you’re back in no time.
“When it first came around, I think Rocky Elsom was one of the first to have it. It was maybe 16 weeks out. The physios and world-class staff we have got it down to nine weeks and down further from all the advances in medicine.”
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Having made his debut in September 2008 against Cardiff, tonight will mark Nacewa’s 175th game in Leinster blue and in that time he has scored 43 tries and a total of 658 points.
Jordan Larmour starts at fullback. Gary Carr / INPHO
Gary Carr / INPHO / INPHO
At the other end of the career is Jordan Larmour, who will make his sixth Leinster appearance at fullback having impressed during the first block of fixtures, most notably when he came off the bench to cut open the Ulster defence during the inter-pro win in Ulster.
When asked about the former St Andrew’s College student, Nacewa was full of praise: “He’s an absolute firecracker. He only knows 100 miles per hour and it’s awesome to be with and play with. He works on his game so hard and he’s just getting better every week at training. His energy is absolute key and it’s something all of us thrive off.
“I would almost encourage him to go 100% and don’t stop when you can because he’s electric. He’s an out-and-out finisher.
“He is one of those guys you just want to get the ball to and see what happens.
“Someone with his ability and skill, similar to Joey, expect something to happen and go from there. He is a ball of energy and he’s bloody fun to play with.”
Leinster will hope to give their backline as much of a platform as possible to cause damage to the Dragons, with Cullen’s pack boosted by the availability of Michael Bent and Jordi Murphy, who were both released from Ireland camp.
Sean Cronin will have a point to prove at hooker while Scott Fardy and Ross Molony add further experience which will help Ed Byrne, Max Deegan and Josh Murphy, who makes his full debut after coming off the bench against Glasgow last time out.
“These are always dangerous games,” Cullen warns, but Leinster should have far too much for the visitors.
Leinster:
15. Jordan Larmour
14. Fergus McFadden
13. Rory O’Loughlin
12. Noel Reid
11. Isa Nacewa (captain)
10. Ross Byrne
9. Jamison Gibson-Park
1. Ed Byrne
2. Seán Cronin
3. Michael Bent
4. Ross Molony
5. Scott Fardy
6. Josh Murphy
7. Jordi Murphy
8. Max Deegan
Replacements:
16. Richardt Strauss
17. Peter Dooley
18. Andrew Porter
19. Ian Nagle
20. Jack Conan
21. Nick McCarthy
22. Cathal Marsh
23. Conor O’Brien
Dragons:
15. Angus O’Brien
14. Jared Rosser
13. Adam Warren
12. Jack Dixon
11. Ashton Hewitt
10. Gavin Henson
9. Sarel Pretorius
1. Sam Hobbs
2. Ellis Shipp
3. Lloyd Fairbrother
4. Joe Davies
5. Matthew Screech
6. Aaron Wainwright
7. Ollie Griffiths (captain)
8. James Benjamin.
Replacements:
16. Gerard Ellis
17. Luke Garrett
18. Brok Harris
19. Rynard Landman
20. Ben Roach
21. Dan Babos
22. Arwel Robson
23. Connor Edwards.
Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU, competition debut).
The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the year’s best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Eason’s, or order it here today (€10):
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'I hate being injured. I hate sitting on the sidelines': Nacewa relishing RDS return
IT’S BEEN A frustrating start to the season for Isa Nacewa, but the Leinster captain hopes his injury problems are behind him as he wins his 175th appearance for the province when the Dragons visit the RDS this evening [KO 7.35pm/TG4].
Nacewa has missed two separate chunks of the campaign but makes his comeback when the Guinness Pro14 resumes later as Leinster look to get back to winning ways against Bernard Jackman’s visitors.
Defeat to Glasgow Warriors in the final game before the November break sees the eastern province sit third in Conference B with Leo Cullen yesterday admitting his side can ill-afford to lose any further ground on pacesetters Scarlets.
Although his hand has been forced somewhat by injuries and players on international duty, Cullen has mixed youth and experience with Nacewa’s return a timely boost ahead of the Champions Cup double-header next month.
The 35-year-old had only returned from the calf injury he sustained in South Africa before picking up an ankle problem in the win over Montpellier in October, an issue which forced him to have surgery.
The dreaded syndesmosis injury — which has now forced Nacewa, Josh van der Flier, Dan Leavy and Barry Daly to go under the knife already this season — kept the back out of action for a period of six weeks.
“I hate being injured. I hate sitting on the sidelines. It’s really good to be back,” he says.
“It [syndesmosis] is the flavour of the month and has been for a while. It is very simple surgery, from what I’ve heard. It takes seven or eight minutes and you’re back in no time.
“When it first came around, I think Rocky Elsom was one of the first to have it. It was maybe 16 weeks out. The physios and world-class staff we have got it down to nine weeks and down further from all the advances in medicine.”
Having made his debut in September 2008 against Cardiff, tonight will mark Nacewa’s 175th game in Leinster blue and in that time he has scored 43 tries and a total of 658 points.
At the other end of the career is Jordan Larmour, who will make his sixth Leinster appearance at fullback having impressed during the first block of fixtures, most notably when he came off the bench to cut open the Ulster defence during the inter-pro win in Ulster.
When asked about the former St Andrew’s College student, Nacewa was full of praise: “He’s an absolute firecracker. He only knows 100 miles per hour and it’s awesome to be with and play with. He works on his game so hard and he’s just getting better every week at training. His energy is absolute key and it’s something all of us thrive off.
“He is one of those guys you just want to get the ball to and see what happens.
“Someone with his ability and skill, similar to Joey, expect something to happen and go from there. He is a ball of energy and he’s bloody fun to play with.”
Leinster will hope to give their backline as much of a platform as possible to cause damage to the Dragons, with Cullen’s pack boosted by the availability of Michael Bent and Jordi Murphy, who were both released from Ireland camp.
Sean Cronin will have a point to prove at hooker while Scott Fardy and Ross Molony add further experience which will help Ed Byrne, Max Deegan and Josh Murphy, who makes his full debut after coming off the bench against Glasgow last time out.
“These are always dangerous games,” Cullen warns, but Leinster should have far too much for the visitors.
Leinster:
15. Jordan Larmour
14. Fergus McFadden
13. Rory O’Loughlin
12. Noel Reid
11. Isa Nacewa (captain)
10. Ross Byrne
9. Jamison Gibson-Park
1. Ed Byrne
2. Seán Cronin
3. Michael Bent
4. Ross Molony
5. Scott Fardy
6. Josh Murphy
7. Jordi Murphy
8. Max Deegan
Replacements:
16. Richardt Strauss
17. Peter Dooley
18. Andrew Porter
19. Ian Nagle
20. Jack Conan
21. Nick McCarthy
22. Cathal Marsh
23. Conor O’Brien
Dragons:
15. Angus O’Brien
14. Jared Rosser
13. Adam Warren
12. Jack Dixon
11. Ashton Hewitt
10. Gavin Henson
9. Sarel Pretorius
1. Sam Hobbs
2. Ellis Shipp
3. Lloyd Fairbrother
4. Joe Davies
5. Matthew Screech
6. Aaron Wainwright
7. Ollie Griffiths (captain)
8. James Benjamin.
Replacements:
16. Gerard Ellis
17. Luke Garrett
18. Brok Harris
19. Rynard Landman
20. Ben Roach
21. Dan Babos
22. Arwel Robson
23. Connor Edwards.
Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU, competition debut).
The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the year’s best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Eason’s, or order it here today (€10):
‘Do I feel pressure to start Joey at 10? No, there’s no issues like that at all’
‘We’ve missed out on points and this is our chance to get them back’
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