RETURN OF THE NAK
Fijian finally back for Glasgow in an unexpected role as Rennie hopes he can sink the Sharks
LEONE Nakarawa’s long-awaited first appearance since his return to Glasgow Warriors takes place against Sale Sharks in the Heineken Champions Cup today... just not in a role he might have expected.
One of the best second rows in the world, the big Fijian has been forced to play at flanker after back-row injuries and suspensions gave Dave Rennie no choice but to start him there.
Despite playing him out of position, the Warriors head coach still believes Nakarawa gives his side a ‘point of difference’ that can help them to the bonus-point win they need to keep their slim Champions Cup hopes alive.
‘With Bruce Flockhart and Matt Fagerson injured, and Callum Gibbins suspended, we needed a ball-carrying player in that flanker role,’ said Rennie.
‘I don’t think Leone was that surprised when I asked him but he doesn’t give too much away, does he? He would prefer to play in the second row but it’s good for us he can play flanker, too.
‘He gives us a really good line-out option and we have Ryan Wilson as well, who is an excellent line-out forward.
‘Leone brings us a point of difference, as keeping the ball alive and taking on defenders will be important against Sale.’
Rennie doesn’t expect Nakarawa to last the full 80 minutes in what will be his first competitive game since his country’s defeat to Wales at the World Cup in Japan in October.
Sacked by Racing 92 when he returned late from the tournament, Nakarawa tried to explain that he needed extra time back home in Fiji where he was helping build a house for his family.
The 31-year-old subsequently joined Glasgow on loan until the end of the season but, with the club signing second-row Richie Gray on a two-year deal from Toulouse, he looks unlikely to stay longer than that.
Rennie will make good use of his talents while Nakarawa is here and feels he has settled in well in what is his second stint at the club.
‘Leone has looked good in training,’ he said. ‘He was close to coming back last week against
Exeter. We’ll have an indication of where his lungs are at during the game.
‘We’re not expecting him to perform like a champion first time out. We just want him to work hard and do his job. His natural ability will mean there should be a bit of ball coming out of his hands.
‘He is ready and he’s loved being back at the club. He has a lot of good mates here and a few Fijian boys. He’s slotted in seamlessly.’
Rennie has called on his players to stay sharp, as they will never know when a pass might be coming their way from the world-class forward.
He also warned them not to chase the game, even though they need a bonus-point win to be in with a chance of qualifying for the knock-out stage as one of the three best group runners-up.
What they have in their favour is that Sale are already out of the competition and have picked an under-strength side for what is a meaningless fixture for them.
‘You need to have an understanding of the strengths of your team-mates,’ said Rennie. ‘It is no good having someone like Leone, who has great offloading skills, when nobody is looking for an offload, so we have to be ready.
‘We are aware of what we need to do but we’re not really talking about having to score four tries. We just have to apply pressure and let the scoreboard take care of itself as we know how tough it will be against Sale.’
Nakarawa is part of a Glasgow back row including two men — Wilson and Tom Gordon — who experienced different fortunes this week regarding the national team.
Glasgow captain and former Scotland skipper Wilson was left out of Gregor Townsend’s Six Nations squad, while one of the back-row men replacing him was uncapped team-mate Gordon.
‘Tom is an impressive athlete, very explosive and powerful, with a good skillset,’ said Rennie. ‘He’s a bit different to our other sevens. He’s worked hard on the physical side of the game and has become a dominant tackler. He has a bit of a nose for stealing the ball.
‘We are delighted he’s being called up by Scotland. He gives us another genuine ball-carrying option. As for Ryan, it’s never easy for the guys who miss out on Scotland but I think he saw the writing on the wall.
‘He’s played ten games in a row for us and is probably playing the best footie I’ve seen in the time I’ve been here.
‘The quality of his contact work has been excellent. He’s been carrying well and getting a lot of offloads away. He’s an excellent line-out forward and is leading from the front. He is disappointed but there are always going to be injuries and maybe opportunities for him with Scotland in the future and that is his mindset.’