WP Nel in no rush to retire as major milestone approaches
Veteran Edinburgh and Scotland prop WP Nel insists he would have no problem retiring tomorrow as he mulls over whether to extend his career beyond the end of the season.
The venerable tighthead, who turns 38 at the end of April, won the last of his 61 caps at the World Cup last autumn and decided against retiring from Test rugby after talks with Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend.
But he picked up a neck issue in the weeks before the Six Nations which prevented him from being available for the Scots’ opening games.
He did return to the national squad mid-tournament and played two games for Edinburgh in the tournament’s fallow weeks, but Townsend opted to retain Northampton Saints’ Elliot Millar-Mills as bench cover for first-choice Zander Fagerson for the rest of the championship.
“After the World Cup I thought I wouldn’t be mentioned to be back in the Six Nations,” Nel said. “It was awesome to be back in the squad and be around the boys. It’s good to be in the environment, but to not play… it was tough to watch. You want to be there, but it’s good that other guys got opportunities.”
Tighthead prop is an area where Scotland are not blessed with great depth. Millar-Mills was not part of Scotland’s original Six Nations squad but when uncapped Leicester prop Will Hurd was forced to pull out with a foot injury and Javan Sebastian was still recovering from a knee problem, the 31-year-old made his debut off the bench in the opening game against Wales and won three further caps.
With Scotland playing summer Tests in Canada, USA, Chile and Uruguay, it is unlikely Nel would be involved in a tour focused more on developing depth while some frontline operators are likely to be rested ahead of a season ending in a British and Irish Lions tour.
But the man known as the ‘Squadfather’ in the Scotland camp appears to be in no rush to close the door on an international career that began in 2015, three years after he qualified on residence following a move from Cheetahs in his native South Africa to Edinburgh in 2012.
“That’s something that will come down the line,” Nel said. “I haven’t given it any thought at this stage. I’m just focused on playing this weekend.
“We had some discussions, even through the Six Nations, about how things look for the future. That’s still something that will need to develop.
“Obviously with my neck there have been issues, so it plays a role. You start thinking and doubting. I went for scans and I need to manage it and see how it will look.
“I’m not 26 or 28 anymore so that’s something I think about. If it’s fine and I can carry on, maybe; if not, I’m happy to stop as well.
“My contract ends at the end of the season so there’s stuff that we need to discuss.”
Nel, who has started ten of Edinburgh’s 15 games this season, admits he can’t see himself playing for another club, but he remains coy about whether he wants to continue playing or call it quits come the end of the current campaign. A coaching element could also be a factor in any new offer.
“There’s nothing difficult to make the decision to end,” he added. “I’ve done more than enough. I’ve achieved over and above what I ever thought I would. [If I had] to make the decision tomorrow, I would. It’s not something I’ve thought about. If I’m done, I’d just finish with Edinburgh.
“I would love to give my experience that I gained over 18 years. I’d love to work with younger kids and give that experience back to them. That’s definitely something I’d love to do.”
While his future remains unresolved, Nel is poised to play his 200th game for Edinburgh in Saturday’s URC match against Stormers in Cape Town, with only ex-prop Allan Jacobsen (273) and former full-back Chris Paterson (205) ahead of him on the club’s all-time list.
“It’s not everyone who plays 200 games,” he added. “To be part of this club for 12 years and get to 200 games, it’s definitely special. To be in that club with ‘Mossy’ [Paterson] and ‘Chunk’ [Jacobsen] is awesome.”
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
5 Go to comments