Dragons new enforcer out to prove Jackman faith is justified
BRANDON Nansen hopes his injury curse has been broken and a consistent run of form with new side Dragons can take him all the way to Japan next year.
The former Auckland Blues and Stade Francais lock signed on at Rodney Parade this summer after a frustrating few years spent mainly on the treatment table.
The giant Samoan is now fighting fit and eager to repay the faith shown in him by his new head coach Bernard Jackman.
“I’m really enjoying it here,” Nansen said. “I’ve had a plague of injuries and I’m not going to lie there have been some very, very tough times.
“At the Blues I tore the tendons in my arm and was out for the season. Then with Stade I started the first four games and it was going well, but in the fifth match I broke my arm and didn’t recover. But I’ve come out the other side and what’s happened has made me a much better player.
“It’s improved me as a person too and I now appreciate the fact I can play rugby and there are people out there who still believe in me. Bernard is one of those.”
Nansen’s competitive Dragons debut ended in nightmare fashion as his team were beaten by Benetton in the first game of the new PRO14 season.
He hopes better times are around the corner after the Dragons won just two league games in the entire 2017-18 campaign. “Bernard was very honest about the team’s struggles, but I appreciated that,” said Nansen, still only 24.
“I know the players, coaches and supporters are looking at me and expecting big things. But there is a huge motivation from me and the squad to bring success to the region.
“Bernard has signed a lot of players who were unwanted at other teams, but that has given us another edge and everyone writing us off this season is music to our ears.
“Bernard wants me to be a big, physical presence in the pack and that’s what I’m hoping to do.”
Nansen believes playing northern hemisphere rugby can help him achieve his dream of representing Samoa at next year’s RWC.
Nansen was born in New Zealand, but both his parents come from Samoa who he has won three Test caps for already.
“The Dragons is a lot different to my experience of French rugby which is a lot more forward dominated. The PRO14 is different and the teams look to play a bit more,” he said.
“I’m not talking down the Top 14 at all, but I felt I wanted to play a different style of rugby and the Dragons came up as an option for me.
“I hope to play for Samoa in their end-of-year tour. If I play well for the Dragons that will help me get selected and the World Cup remains a big, big goal for me. It would be massive for me to play there.”