They say you don’t truly know a man’s character until he first sits, and stands, through four hours of photo-shoots and corporate talk before being tasked with another hour of media obligations.
Isa Nacewa did not come back to Ireland to pose beside a trophy that resembles the old Heineken Cup or sit in his jersey, shorts and socks on a stage while terrestrial TV rights were discussed and TV hosts made jokes about the value of Sterling.
He came back to help Leinster to win trophies.
Munster should be his only focus but it is already one of those weeks. Half the Leinster squad was out in Carton House with Ireland coach Joe Schmidt on Monday. Everybody was in for training on Tuesday but here he is, sitting in the Dublin Convention Centre, answering questions about Montpellier and Castres.
Rugby players are focused purely on the next game. They can’t afford to worry about the lads they are playing the week after next or the away trip the week after that.
We are the last pod to speak to the Leinster captain and we stalk over as he is in the midst of a magazine interview. The journalist probably has a cosy enough deadline. We need stuff for today, tomorrow, this week.
After 10 minutes of talking about the Champions Cup, Nacewa is giving off every bit of body language that he can – it’s time to go; wrap this up.
A pause gives us our chance and we pounce – Munster, Munster, Munster. The Champions Cup can wait until Champions Cup week.
Have preparations ramped up for those Munster lads? Nacewa laughs but there is little warmth in it. He says:
“There’s no need for motivation in a Leinster vs. Munster week. It takes care of itself and adds an extra buzz and bite to training. That’s just an extra plus for our environment, even with the new guys around and with quite a few guys away in Carton House.
“It has already tightened up a week in which you need as many hours preparation as you can.
“But, yeah, emotions take care of themselves.”
Maybe it is the way he glowers at us the whole way through his answer, practically daring us for a follow-up.
We switch our focus to Leo Cullen, get what we need and are in and out in five minutes. Brief, snappy, painless as possible.
It’s exactly what we would expect from Nacewa and we are more than fine with his attitude.
Isa Nacewa came back to win some bloody games. Let him have at it.
The GAA Hour pays tribute to the unbeatable Dubs and ask where did it all go wrong for Mayo in the All-Ireland final replay. Listen below or subscribe on iTunes.
