Calvin Nash: 'I was kind of shocked with how well Andy Farrell handles people'

It was Andy Farrell who unlocked the puzzle Calvin Nash was grappling with after feeling he had not offered the best picture of himself in previous training camps.

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell and Calvin Nash after the Six Nations victory over Scotland. Picture: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Calvin Nash has hailed “mastermind” Andy Farrell for his man-management skills over Ireland’s successful Guinness Six Nations campaign and for helping to express himself in as a player in the green jersey.

The Munster wing, 26, went into the championship campaign with a single cap from a 19-minute Test debut off the bench against Italy in a World Cup warm-up last August and behind first-choice Mack Hansen and Jimmy O’Brien in the pecking order for the number 14 Ireland jersey as the 2023 Grand Slam winners geared up for a Six Nations title defence.

Hansen’s dislocated shoulder, sustained in Connacht’s January 1 URC derby against Munster, and O’Brien’s neck injury picked up a couple of weeks later on Leinster duty saw Nash promoted to Farrell’s starting line-up for the opener against France in Marseille on February 2 and after a try-scoring Six Nations starting debut in a record victory over Les Belus, the head coach praised the right wing for seeking him out on the eve of the match and asking for help overcoming pre-match nerves.

Five straight starts, another try against Italy in Round Two and an assist off his flank for fellow wing James Lowe against Wales, and Nash now has a Six Nations winner’s medal and is able to return the compliment back to the Ireland boss.

“I was kind of shocked with how well Andy handles people in general,” Nash said. “He has a great outlook on everything and I feel like he is probably a bit of a mastermind. It’s almost as if he has seen every possible scenario for you.

“He always has a good answer or good input, you know that kind of way? He was unbelievable for me through this whole campaign. He backed me through the whole thing and I just want to say thanks to him. Keep it going hopefully, stay in camps.” 

It was Farrell who unlocked the puzzle Nash was grappling with after feeling he had not offered the best picture of himself in previous training camps, most notably in last summer’s pre-World Cup when the Munster back was one of the first group of players jettisoned shortly after his Test debut.

Calvin Nash scores Ireland's third try during the Six Nations clash with France. Picture: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

“Previously in camps my mind had been so focused on every minor little detail and that probably took away from me actually expressing myself on the field and Faz always says that the quicker you can be yourself the quicker you can start to enjoy it.

“That’s what he drives the whole time, just everyone being themselves and also enjoying the rugby we’re playing. Once you get all over your detail you can enjoy it.” 

Nash has undoubtedly been helped by the arrival of Mike Prendergast as Munster’s attack coach these past two seasons, his gameplan more in sync with the national set-up implemented by Farrell and Mike Catt which calls for more industry from wings than merely hugging the touchlines and waiting for the ball to arrive.

“I feel like in this campaign, I probably wouldn't have been as involved as I'd like to have been. That was a massive work-on of mine for the past two years and, look, Catty, Faz and even Prendy as well back in Munster have helped me so much to bring on my game.

"I feel like I did need a few games to really get into the gist of it. Training is one thing but matches are another. Look, it's a constant learning curve. I'll just keep learning and keep trying to improve every week."

Nash acknowledges he will need to stay on that upward trajectory if he is to hold his own when Hansen and O’Brien return to the fold as expected ahead of the summer tour to South Africa.

"Of course, they're two amazing players obviously. I'm massively privileged to put on a jersey in their absence. They're great lads as well. They were a massive loss to the camp. Mack was in and stuff (last week) and testament to him, he was saying 'well done', he was delighted to see me go well and stuff.

“He's a great lad and he's a great player. The more competition you have the better. We wish them well and hopefully they'll get back into camps and be healthy."

Nash has a taste for life with Ireland now and would be loathe to give it up after this winning start.

“I am lucky, first campaign, delighted,” he said.

“You don’t realise how much good craic you have, just to be amongst all the lads. There’s such a great buzz going and such a great culture going forward all the time. It’s always next job focus and its great to play with a group like that. They’re all team players, that’s the best way I can describe it to you, everyone wants the best for everyone. It’s just an amazing group to be a part of.”