Ward: Nacewa remarkable, selfless
Dublin: Former Blues stalwart Isa Nacewa has been hailed as “selflessness personified” by an Irish rugby legend after leading Leinster to the European Champions Cup semifinals.
Nacewa is on track for a fourth European title in his second stint in Dublin after Leinster earned a home semifinal against Welsh champions Scarlets.
Tony Ward, a former Ireland and British and Irish Lions first five eighth, paid Nacewa the “selflessness personified” tribute in his Irish Independent column after Leinster’s 30-19 quarterfinal win over two-time champions Saracens last weekend. Nacewa - a European Cup winner in 2009, 2011, 2012 before a brief stint on the Blues’ back room staff - has rolled back the years, at 35, as Leinster’s captain and second fiveeighths.
He was named in Planet Rugby’s Champions Cup Team of the Week. The international rugby website stated: “Just a remarkable player. Nacewa has generally been used as a full-back or wing for the Irish province but, at the age of 35, has made the switch to centre seamlessly.”
Leinster now have the incentive of equalling the record for most European Champions Cup titles if they win a fourth crown this year, joining Toulouse at the top of the totem.
Nacewa and Irish internationals Jonathan Sexton, Cian Healy and Devin Toner are on course for their fourth individual winners’ medals.
Nacewa - a one-cap international with Fiji - admitted the memory of losing last year’s European Champions Cup semifinal to French side Clermont - and the spur of Ireland’s recent Six Nations Grand Slam victory - were driving Leinster.
We’ve a really motivated squad,” the Aucklander told the Irish Mirror.