Graham Rowntree backs Calvin Nash for long Munster and Ireland career

SECOND CAP INCOMING: Calvin Nash will start for Ireland against France. Pic: Dan Sheridan, Inpho.

Graham Rowntree has backed Calvin Nash to have long career with both Munster and Ireland after the winger was handed a Guinness Six Nations debut against France on Friday night.

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell selected Nash, 26, to fill the void created by Mack Hansen’s dislocated shoulder with the Munster wing now set to win his second Test cap following a summer debut against Italy in a World Cup warm-up.

Nash failed to make the final Ireland squad for France but has been in blistering form for Munster this season and has now been rewarded with a Six Nations start on the right wing, holding off the more experienced Jordan Larmour for selection.

Farrell on Wednesday agreed his choice for the number 14 jersey had been a reward for Nash’s hard work and hunger to improve, a trait also recognised at Munster by head coach Rowntree and fellow wing Shane Daly.

“It certainly is,” Farrell said. “It's a reward for him coming into camp, understanding what that job looks like for him within our team, and going away and working on those bits, and he's been very good at improving most parts of his game, actually.

Nash in action with Munster. Pic: Niall Carson/PA Wire.

“I mean it's a given, isn't it, regarding his work rate, etc, but his work off the ball and his work with ball in hand and finding a way to make a difference and be that extra link in attack has really come on leaps and bounds.

“Again, all you need in life is an opportunity, and it's a big one for Calvin.”

Farrell’s assessment chimed with Rowntree’s with the Munster boss impressed by Nash’s journey to current good form and his positive response to working with assistant coaches Mike Prendergast and Denis Leamy over the past two seasons.

“He has really knuckled down in his game and become very professional and diligent around his preparation and his recovery,” Rowntree said.

“I think he’s excelled, you can see how he’s excelled under Mike’s attack, how we want to play the game.

“His work in the air, look at the try he scored against Toulon. His kick-chase, he’s been leading, literally, leading all the data because we measure kick-chase and he’s been leading that for a while now.

“But he’s really knuckled down on the detail of his game, his handling and his defence. His defence in particular, he’s really responded to Denis coming into the club. So he’s become in my humble view a lot more professional and he’s had a taste for it.

“You can see the light’s really go on in him, he’s had a taste for things and he wants to better. So we’ll see what Irish selection brings for him but I think it’s a question of when not if with Calvin and I think he’ll have a long career, with ourselves and Ireland.”

Fellow wing Daly, set to start for Munster this Saturday against Super Rugby champions Crusaders at a sold-out Pairc Ui Chaoimh, has seen an even greater evolution in his friend since their early days at the province.

“I was in the academy with Calvin, we played the whole way through together, he’s a great friend off the pitch and a great guy to play with on the pitch,” Daly said before Nash’s selection was confirmed.

“I wish him all the best, I hope he does get his first Six Nations cap. He definitely deserves it, he’s been playing incredibly for us. We’re all wishing him the best.

“He’s matured massively, I think he was a bit… (laughs), I don’t know about saying it on camera but he’s matured massively over the years and he’s a real senior player for us now, a real key player and a guy that leads by example.

“He wouldn’t often say too much in huddles or anything but he’d be having chats with everyone one-to-one. He’s always looking to improve himself, he’s a great guy to work with. I really enjoy playing with him.”

It was suggested to Daly that the word he had been reticent about using in regard to the Nash of old was “messer”.

“Yeah,” he agreed with a chuckle, “that was probably the technical term.”