Alex Nankivell: 'Tadhg Beirne has this farmer strength, he's unbelievable'
Munster's Alex Nankivell. Pic: Steve Haag Sports/Steve Haag/Inpho
He’s been in Ireland over two-and-a-half years now, and a 50th appearance for Munster is coming this weekend away to Exeter Chiefs, but so many of Alex Nankivell’s reference points continue to take him back to his native New Zealand.
Thirty this October, he thinks back to his days with the Chiefs when some of the older brigade - Aaron Cruden for one - would stretch their training days that bit longer to include more prehab and rehab. Now here he is at the same stage.
Ask him about young Kiwi scrum-half Ben O’Donovan, recently arrived from Canterbury, and his praise for the youngster’s awareness and speed of passing segues seamlessly into another comparison from their native shores.
“He kind of looks like Noah Hotham, the All Blacks half-back.”
Ultimately, Nankivell hasn’t had much of an opportunity to see everything O’Donovan has to offer given their limited interactions in training.
More should be known if and when the new man comes off the bench against Exeter in Sandy Park in the Challenge Cup tie.
His take on others is far more informed, among them Tadhg Beirne who has been, and continues to be, a colossus for club, country and for the British and Irish Lions despite turning the grand old age of 34 last January.
The comparison this time? Brodie Retallick, another old Chief teammate.
Nankivell saw a jackler, or an all-powerful athlete when he looked at Retallick. The one-time world player of the year wasn’t a gym animal either.
What he shares with Beirne is a nous, just a very simple ability to understand and play rugby at a very high level.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, genuinely. He's just got this farmer strength. His feel for the game is so incredible, and I think that's Tadhg. He's just got that unbelievable understanding of the game and he's world class.
“I'm actually real embarrassed about it, but I didn't really know who he was when I came over here. I am actually embarrassed about it. But then the access we have to Northern Hemisphere rugby isn't great in New Zealand, just for the time difference.
“But seeing him play, I'm like, ‘Jesus, he’s unbelievable’.”
It isn’t just Beirne’s individual skills that make him so important. Nankivell touched on the Kildare man’s influence on others, how the simple act of running out alongside him lifts teammates who know exactly what the man from Eadestown will bring to the table.
The same holds for Munster’s two talismanic half-backs.
Nankivell has twigged the confidence that all three have brought back with them from Ireland’s Six Nations window, and how a sometimes “narky” dedication to high standards and ability to drive a week can transfer on to others.
The Kiwi saw it first-hand the day before last week’s narrow URC loss away to the Bulls when Casey had a go at him when he made a mistake during the walkthrough. Small things that all make contributions to the bigger picture.
Joe Schmidt was infamous for his attention to detail in all aspects on and off the pitch during his time with Leinster and Ireland. And senior Irish players used to admit that sessions were that bit tighter when Johnny Sexton was on the park and barking orders.
Imports like Nankivell have a role in that department too, not just when the senior internationals are away on Test duties, and the centre has proven to be a quality contributor having started 46 of his 49 games with the club to date.
He has been lucky enough when it comes to injuries, and all the more so when he thinks back to his introduction to Munster which came on the back of a packed schedule back home.
By the end of year one in Ireland he had played 42 games in 14 months.
The 50th cap thing has taken him by surprise. Twice.
One of the communications team mentioned it’s approach in Durban last week and he forgot about it until reminded a few days ago. He’s proud to have made the impact he has, and happy that an initial two-year stint has been extended.
“Yeah, it's a funny one because I didn't actually think anything further than [the first two years with] Munster. But actually getting here ... I probably should have thought about it, to be fair. I didn't realise that after two years, potentially I might get moved on because I might be blocking the pathway for an Irish midfielder.
“So I actually didn't think about that because I've heard that happen in the past where lads would come in for two years and then bugger off. So, to be honest, I'd put no thought into looking elsewhere or going elsewhere, or where I'd like to go. I just kind of thought I'd come and stay if I enjoyed it for as long as I could.”
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