ISA NACEWA COULD never be accused of clogging up Leinster’s attacking structures. But during his absence over the last two months the eastern province have gotten along just fine without the skipper.
You know the numbers by now (a few key ones here if you really want a refresher), so let’s just say the academy kids barely put a foot wrong during the Six Nations window.
Nacewa returns as Leinster begin a block of games to shape their season by facing Cardiff Blues at the RDS this afternoon (3pm, Sky Sports 2). Yet even with Rob Kearney out for at least a month, Nacewa is not in the position where he has been most effective for Leinster.
That role is taken by another outrageously talented utility back with Auckland in his veins.
“Ah Joey’s great,” Nacewa says with an instant warmth when the name Carbery is mentioned.
You can see how electric his footwork is, he has great kicking out of hand, he plays what’s in front of him, he’s a genuine threat every time he’s got the ball in his hands.
“He’s had international experience for the last seven months, and a different environment too, so he’s learning along the way. He’s learned from Irish camp, he brings those eyes and ears back into Leinster.
“He’s a threat, he’s always fun to play with.”
The two men are a generation apart, but even just by Nacewa’s description, the pair have more than just a Kiwi upbringing in common.
Carbery excelled in the number 10 shirt for his province early this season, and his sheer unflappability was a something to behold in Chicago. However, with Ross Byrne also in terrific form ahead of the last two Pro12 fixtures, Leo Cullen has opted to use the Athy man’s skill-set elsewhere on the field. To devastating effect.
For some, it can be difficult to settle in a team when the position and the role changes from one game to another. But nobody smooths that process over quite like Nacewa, and he has no fears that Carbery can thrive at fullback, where there is often more time and space to impose creativity upon a game.
“Joey’s class, he really is. He works really hard on his game, he works hard in the analysis room, he’s learning as he goes and he takes it all in his stride.
“It’s very hard to frazzle Joey, he just gets on with it, and that’s probably why he’s so exciting out on the rugby field and so much fun to play with.”
While Nacewa can look forward to fun (hopefully in the sun) with Carbery and the other fresh faces in the Leinster back-line this afternoon, Kearney and Jamie Heaslip will be out for a big chunk of what remains of the season. Cullen was hesitant to put a time-frame on the latter’s return; a combination of the complicated nature of the spine and the utter rarity of seeing the freakishly resilient number eight injured.
“I think it’s (the) first surgery that he’s ever had,” said Cullen.
“He’s unbelievably resilient and a great pro, Jamie, so if anyone could turn around an injury quickly, it’s likely to be him.
“Three or four weeks is the most he’s been out, so it’s a pretty phenomenal run he’s had over the course of his career. But he takes really good care of himself, he’s a great example to the young players that we have.”
If Carbery is Nacewa’s natural heir, then Jack Conan is probably the leading pretender to Heaslip’s throne. The powerful number eight misses out on the chance to face Cardiff, but his ‘tightness’ should be shaken off by the time the Champions Cup quarter-final comes next weekend.
Sexton too. The out-half didn’t train in UCD this week, but he has been back at HQ and Cullen expects him to have a full week’s training under his belt come 1 April.
It’s difficult not to look beyond today’s fixture with Wasps hovering so closely on the other side. Yet it’s an important outing for Leinster, an opportunity not only to keep up their fluid attacking form, but to bed internationals and injury returns into the team rhythm. Because there will be changes for the big day at the Aviva.
Carbery though, will have the perfect chance to make sure he’s not one of them.
Leinster:
15. Joey Carbery
14. Adam Byrne
13. Rory O’Loughlin
12. Noel Reid
11. Isa Nacewa (Capt)
10. Ross Byrne
9. Luke McGrath
1. Cian Healy
2. Richardt Strauss
3. Michael Bent
4. Ross Molony
5. Hayden Triggs
6. Dan Leavy
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Rhys Ruddock
Replacements:
16. James Tracy
17. Peter Dooley
18. Mike Ross
19. Mick Kearney
20. Max Deegan
21. Jamison Gibson-Park
22. Tom Daly
23. Fergus McFadden
Cardiff Blues:
15. Matthew Morgan
14. Alex Cuthbert
13. Rey Lee-Lo
12. Steven Shingler
11. Blaine Scully (Capt)
10. Gareth Anscombe
9. Tomos Williams
1. Corey Domachowski
2. Kristian Dacey
3. Anton Peikrishvili
4. George Earle
5. Jarrad Hoeata
6. Macauley Cook
7. Josh Navidi
8. Nick Williams
Replacements:
16. Matthew Rees
17. Gethin Jenkins
18. Scott Andrews
19. Sion Bennett
20. Ellis Jenkins
21. Lloyd Williams
22. Willis Halaholo
23. Tom James
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