Ryan Bailey reports from the Aviva Stadium
RARELY DOES SPORT allow for fairytale endings, and so Isa Nacewa was cruelly denied the chance to head into retirement in the way he — and the majority inside this ground — would have liked, as the Leinster captain limped out of this evening’s Guinness Pro14 final.
Nacewa hobbled out of the game with just 18 minutes on the clock to a standing ovation from all four corners of the Aviva Stadium, but was left visibly distraught on the touchline as the calf injury that has troubled him for a number of weeks had the final say.
The 35-year-old, making his 185th and final appearance for the province, made a typically energetic start to the game, making a couple of big hits and putting his body on the line for the cause.
But Nacewa’s afternoon was to be cut short as he was replaced by Rory O’Loughlin, with Leinster going on to complete a historic Pro14-Champions Cup double.
Nacewa’s Leinster career started with a 16-16 away draw with Cardiff Blues in September 2008 and during two spells with the province, the Auckland native has won 184 caps, scored 47 tries and been part of four European Cup winning sides.
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