Nacewa's thoughts turn to Scarlets

HEINEKEN CUP:Despite new arrivals, a win or bust match tends to refocus minds, writes JOHNNY WATTERSON

‘CARDIFF. RDS,” says Isa Nacewa as if the date and venue were cast in stone. Cardiff, RDS was his last match for Leinster. Lingering memories of that game came in the shape of a 23-6 win before the Kiwi utility back vanished from view.

He remembers the game clearly but the days since have been less well-defined for good reason. Nacewa wasn’t injured. Michael Cheika didn’t drop him. There was no discipline issue and his contract was fine. Nacewa was, in a metaphorical sense, high tackled.

This November of international matches was one for him to kick his heels to the beat of a new drum as Mia Rose and Ellie Milika came tumbling into the world demanding attention long before they were invited. Beautifully identical and four weeks premature, Nacewa watched Ireland face Australia, South Africa and the country for which he has one cap, Fiji, on television as he anxiously knuckled down to domestic priorities and two tiny bundles. A win or bust match against Scarlets this weekend is for the 27-year-old a return to an older, more familiar normality.

“Yes I’ve been busy since the 15th November. Identical twin girls came, so I’ve got my hands full,” he says. “Mia and Ellie, they came a bit early. Premature but both breathing on their own and feeding very well now. It’s a bit life-changing but just a hurdle I’ve got to deal with and sort of enjoy at the same time.

“Not too much of a shock,” he adds. “They are three or four weeks early. She (mother, Simone) was due to have a C-section but they both hang out a good weight for 33 and a half weeks. They’re feeding really fine so it’s just a waiting game for them to put on weight. Should be home come Sunday.

“As Cheika says they’re his two favourite girls because they stayed away from the Heineken Cup and came when there was no rugby on. So it’s two good presents come Christmas time.”

Sunday could be defining day in the Nacewa household then. With Leinster travelling to Parc Y Scarlets on Saturday evening for what is a knockout match long before the knockout stages of the competition, the result could hole Leinster’s campaign below the water line or keep them nicely on course again to defend their Heineken Cup title.

With Jonathan Sexton injured, Nacewa could step, if required, into the outhalf position but his thoughts settle on a wing berth being the most likely and Shaun Berne slotting into the position on which Sexton made such a successful raid with Ireland.

“Shaun Berne is here and he has played outhalf this season already,” he explains. “With Luke Fitzgerald down there is always an opportunity for me to play out on the wing especially with Shaggy [Shane Horgan] and Rob Kearney fit as well so . . . most likely out there. I’ve always been cover even for Jonny through the season. Ideally I’d like to be in the back three but it is up to Michael to make the decision.

“Being outhalf with the guys like Reddan, Brian O’Driscoll and D’Arcy around they take a bit of pressure off you anyway, so whoever dips in there for the team, they have a lot of support around them. Ten may be the number one shot-caller but with those guys out there, contributing and passing information the whole game, it makes the position a lot easier.”

The arrival of Fiji, however, hardly made for November being as relaxed as it might have been. Nacewa’s name was linked with the islanders and before he knew it he was reading about himself forsaking Leinster for Fiji and the next World Cup. It was strong enough for Nacewa to feel the need to soothe the brows of his employers. “I told them that I am not committing myself to Fiji at all and that Leinster is my number one priority and I haven’t really looked beyond that,” he says. “Things just got twisted in a different way.

“You don’t really want to wake up the next day and hear all of your words twisted around. I sat down, obviously with Michael Cheika and a few guys from Leinster and we thought it will be next week’s news in no time. We left it behind, just left it at that.”

In more than one sense the future dominates the skyline. Nacewa is focused though. The big guns have arrived.

“Yes, the mother-in-law, she’s staying with us,” he tells us. “Don’t laugh like that. It’s absolutely brilliant.”