Calvin Nash: 'It's a class back three and very dangerous and I wouldn't be kicking to loosely to those lads'

Calvin Nash is enjoying playing alongside Thaakir Abrahams and Andrew Smith.

DANGEROUS BACK THREE: Calvin Nash believes their new look back three is dangerous and can do damage. Pic: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile

Bordeaux-Begles may pack a world-class punch with Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Damein Penaud on their wings but Calvin Nash believes Munster’s new-look back three can also do plenty of damage.

It was a first outing for the trio of Nash, fellow wing Andrew Smith and full-back Thaakir Abrahams at La Rochelle last Saturday and all three made significant impacts to help Munster secure their 25-24 Champions Cup Round of 16 victory. South African Abrahams, who joined from Lyon last summer, was making his first appearance since mid-December while former Ireland Sevens player Smith is just two games into his Munster career having joined on loan from Connacht last month for the rest of the season.

It was Abrahams’ dazzling counter-attack that set up Craig Casey for their side’s opening try while Smith recovered from an early yellow card to not only score a try just after half-time but also make his mark in defence with key secondhalf turnovers.

"He's absolutely lightning,” Nash said of Abrahams. “The way he can change direction is mental to be honest. If I could try learn a few things off him I could be a different type of player but no, he's lightning and he can make something out of nothing. He was twinkling there across the pitch, and the next thing he's making a massive line break for Craig's try.

"And I think Smithy coming in, I played with him on the Emerging Ireland tour and straight away I thought he was class.

"You saw glimpses with Connacht as well, he had some very good moments and I'm not sure what happened, maybe he fell out of favour but delighted to have him here.

"He's a great lad as well, which is half the battle, getting a good lad in. He's incredibly physical and I think he gives his all, which is another thing you need, he’ll stay switched on throughout the game.

“He chases hard, his chat is good on and around the pitch, and he has an eagerness to learn as well. You want someone hungry coming in. You need that bit of bite about you in those big games and he scored his first try in Europe with us, he had a few nice turnovers, some very good defensive reads, he was physical. So, it's class to have him.

“I think it's a class back three and very dangerous and I wouldn't be kicking to loosely to those lads either because they can do damage.”