Munster to make late decision on 'cranky' Nankivell

Alex Nankivell during Munster rugby squad training at University of Limerick. Picture: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Simon Lewis Graham Rowntree insists no decision has yet been made on Alex Nankivell’s availability for Munster’s URC semi-final at home to Glasgow Warriors this Saturday but confirmed the first-choice centre has trained well already this week.

The former Maori All Black midfielder, signed from New Zealand’s Chiefs last summer, has become an integral part of the Munster backline in his debut campaign in the Northern Hemisphere but injured his ankle in the penultimate round of URC league action last month at Edinburgh.

Nankivell has returned to full training at Munster’s High Performance at the University of Limerick and could reunite with midfield partner Antoine Frisch for Saturday evening’s Thomond Park semi-final and head coach Rowntree on Tuesday said: “He’s trained well, we’ll finalise that later in the week, which is generally what I do anyway., announce the team as late as possible, but he’s trained well.

Head coach Graham Rowntree during Munster rugby squad training. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

“It was a quick turnaround that, credit to our medical team. He did it three and a bit weeks ago, Edinburgh away, it didn’t look good at the time. There was talks of surgery but he’s done phenomenally well. We’ll make that decision later in the week but he has trained well today.” Rowntree praised the way Nankivell, 27, had integrated into the Munster squad following his summer move.

“He’s good around the group, he’s a good character in the group. He’s aggressive is Nanks, really aggressive both sides of the ball. You know he’s on the field, he brings a real good energy.

“Sometimes he can speak too much, have to rein him in a bit, gets a bit too energetic with officials and what have you but he’s been a really popular signing, Cranks. Cranky, gets a bit cranky.

“He has trained but we’ll determine that final selection on Thursday.” 

That crankiness cited by Rowntree could come in handy this Saturday as Munster renew what has become a feisty relationship with Glasgow over the past decade. The Warriors can select from three Scotland-capped centres in Sione Tuipulotu, Huw Jones and Stafford McDowall, the former two having started last Saturday’s quarter-final victory over the Stormers with great effect.

“I hope so,” the Munster boss said of Nankivell’s suitability for potential niggle. “He’s certainly done that well this year. Yeah, they’ve got a very destructive centre partnership haven’t they? We found that last year.

“Really pleased with how he’s settled within the club, on and off the field.”