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Munster be warned - the frightening stats that make Leone Nakarawa a man apart
Racing 92 have a vast collection of high profile stars in their team, notably two-time World Cup winner Dan Carter, but it’s their Fijian second row Leone Nakarawa who has been the standout in their Champions Cup campaign so far, playing every minute in their march to the semi-finals.
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His stats are remarkable – he tops in the offload standings with 19, an impressive seven more than second-placed Louis Picamoles, with the in-form Chris Ashton in third place on 11. This marries in with Nakarawa’s high workrate, he is second in the carries charts with 104, just one behind Munster’s number 8 CJ Stander.
The man can shift the gears, he’s the sole forward in the top-five in terms of defenders beaten, joint-fourth on 22 alongside 2018 Natwest 6 Nations top try scorer Jacob Stockdale. Only his fellow countrymen Nemani Nadolo and Josua Tuisova, along with the Ospreys’ Owen Watkin are ahead of him.
His prowess at lineout is illustrated by the fact that he’s fourth in the lineout standings with 31 takes. Top of the pile in that category is Munster’s Peter O’Mahoney on 38 – the lineout battle is just one fascinating subplot to the match in Bordeaux on Sunday. The danger for Munster is that Nakarawa can also lean on the inside knowledge provided by his second row partner Donnacha Ryan.
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In other news: Joe Marler joins The Rugby Pod to discuss Harlequins’ season
Nakarawa’s pedigree is without question, he was named in the team of the tournament after the 2015 Rugby World Cup and one magazine recently ranked him third in the world in their top-100 players.
Success has followed him too – and Munster know first-hand – Nakarawa was man-of-the-match when Glasgow Warriors beat the Irish side 31-13 in the 2015 PRO12 final. He was also a key figure in Fiji’s Sevens team claiming gold at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, scoring a try in the gold medal match.
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Munster have been reacquainted with the 30-year-old this season, Nakarawa scored Racing’s only try in their 14-7 defeat at Thomand in Pool 4, and played at number eight in the return, a 34-30 win at the U Arena.
Nakarawa’s try scoring record this season for Racing is also striking, he’s scored once every four games, including in their recent quarter-final win over Clermont Auvergne.
If Munster are to keep the 1.99m, 109kg forward quiet it will go a long way to nullifying their French opponents. However, if Racing do get the upper hand up front Johann van Graan’s side can expect tough day – scrum half Maxime Machenaud’s ability to be able to control affairs at scrum half is well known. He has plenty of options outside him too with Springbok Pat Lambie at 10, while French duo Virimi Vakatawa and Teddy Thomas add pace and power. Such is Racing’s embarrassment of riches, that they can afford to have two All Blacks on the bench, in Carter and Joe Rokocoko.
? COMPO | Racing 92 vs Munster Rugby | #R92MUN
La voilà ! Menée par Maxime Machenaud, découvrez l'équipe du Racing qui affrontera le @Munsterrugby lors de la demi-finale de @ChampionsCup !
Allez Racing ! #RacingFamily pic.twitter.com/l31q8yANNR
— Racing 92 (@racing92) April 20, 2018
Munster in terms of European experience cannot be matched, this will be their 13th semi-final, but Racing themselves reached the 2016 Champions Cup final and certainly won’t be overawed by the occasion on Sunday.
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The two matches between the sides have been close this season, but with 36-year-old Carter available to marshal Racing 92 home in the closing stages of this encounter, it could be the factor that swings it the French club’s way, along with having an imposing in-form Fijian forward in their ranks.
You may also like: Ex-Scotland international, Jim Hamilton, travels to Singapore to explore the city and find out more about the rugby scene in the Southeast Asian country. He meets up with the national team captain and several local players.
Comments on RugbyPass
The side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
4 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
4 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
4 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
4 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to comments