A tribute to a Leinster legend - Scotty Stevenson
Isa Nacewa hung up his boots yesterday after leading his beloved Leinster to Champions Cup and Pro14 Glory. It has been a remarkable career for a man who deserves to be known for so much more than not playing for the All Blacks.
There was possibly a time when Isa Nacewa regretted playing two minutes of test rugby for Fiji. It was not, by his own critical assessment, much of an international debut for the then 20-year old kid. He came on as a substitute against Scotland at the 2003 Rugby World Cup, attempted one tackle and then heard the fulltime whistle. That was it for the game and, as it turned out, for his hopes of stitching together a stellar international career.
Rugby’s hegemonic eligibility laws meant, after that forgettable 120 seconds of test rugby, Nacewa would never be able to represent another nation. He could have represented at least two: New Zealand, his birthplace and home, where he dazzled crowds for both Auckland and the Blues; and Ireland, his adopted nation where his status as one of the greats was reinforced this season.
The law, in the case of Isa Nacewa, is an ass.
It is we, as much as he, who were robbed by the IRB’s intractable stance. Who among us would have not thrilled at the sight of one of the most creative players ever put on God’s green grass lighting up the big stages of the game? And he would have. Because lighting it up is what Nacewa has always done.
He did it in New Zealand. In 2007, his final season with Auckland, he helped the side claim the national championship (the union has not claimed the crown since) and the Ranfurly Shield (the union’s last reign). Legend has it that after the team had returned from Christchurch with the Log O’ Wood, Nacewa and Brent Ward chained themselves to the celebratory keg in the Eden Park changing room and did their best to drain if of every last drop.
It was titles, not test caps, that Nacewa learned to celebrate. Robbed of the latter, he set his formidable mind to collecting the former. He left New Zealand, knowing that the All Blacks door was closed, and arrived in Dublin with “two suitcases”. He’d need many more, just to fit in his many accolades, if he were to return to New Zealand now. He has been a part of four European victories for Leinster and he collected his third league title on the weekend. He is the undisputed king of cups.
It says much about Nacewa that his team forced him to hold the Pro14 trophy aloft on his own at the presentation. It says much more that he didn’t want to. In his post-match press conference he called time on his career but did not dwell on the past. Instead, he laid down a challenge to the future stars of Leinster. He does not look back. Isa Nacewa only goes forwards.
He came back to New Zealand several years ago. He wanted his kids to experience a life here. He lived in Onehunga, looking out across the Manukau Harbour and the shabby old fishing wharf where the cement ships would dock and the salt ice factory whirred all day. He called a few games for television. I had the privilege of working alongside him. Articulate, accurate, anticipatory – all the things he was as a player and as a person he brought to his game coverage.
Engaging and warm he has always been. He was a joy to speak to about much more than the game. He was a soul searcher of sorts, a man who sought every avenue for self-improvement. He joined the Blues’ coaching staff but saw before most of us that the team for which he had first made his name needed something he simply could not offer. He was too much of a gentleman to ever criticise the organisation but I knew he fulfilled his obligations there in quiet despair.
And then he was gone again.
The seeker found familiar ground upon which he knew he could add value. He returned to Leinster in 2014 and now, three seasons later, he leaves the playing roster once more. He has enriched the club, and all who have played alongside him, but his body is done. His brain, on the other hand will keep giving for many years to come.
That’s probably what made Nacewa special as a player. He is a giver – a generous man off the field who on it made his team mates better. A pass here, a swerve there, a running line divined by magic. He set up every story, and let the others deliver the punch lines.
But not on the weekend. There was only one way for a legend to go, and that was to stand there, in front, with the trophy raised and the briefest of moments his alone to savour. And when you watch that moment again, and you should, you will know that those two minutes for Fiji cost Isa Nacewa nothing at all, that there will be no regrets.
He retires a legend, a titan of the game. And the plaudits and the titles are his to cherish and to one day, when the next door opens and he takes his first steps on the journey of the rest of his life, reflect upon.
And everything about that is just as it should be.
Comments on RugbyPass
No Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
5 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
5 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
18 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
18 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to comments