Isa Nacewa appreciation thread - Part II

prawnsambo

The last time he retired there was always the feeling that it was too soon and seemed wrong. This time, there's no question of him playing again unfortunately.

He will finish with over 180 caps and over 700 points scored. Arguably the best foreign player ever to set foot in this country and certainly one of the most influential. Hopefully he'll retire with some more silverware in his pocket. He deserves no less.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbSxiHLMTVE

I think this is the original retirement thread back in 2013. I think we can do better.

irishbucsfan

Top geezer

Clegg

Nacewa is absolutely the best ever import into the provinces.

He's excelled at 11, 14, 15 and even had a late career renaissance at 12. World class player at his very best and an incredible on field leader.

ProudDUB

Absolute legend !

prawnsambo

It had to end, sadly. He could never compete with James Lowe's hair and took the honourable approach to bow out gracefully.

crisco10

Whatever else happens the rest of this season, for me 2009 to 2018 will always be the Isa and Sexton years! Two players who have always driven the standard up, and in Isa's case produced the goods on the "cold, wet Tuesday nights" when the internationals were away.

The real shame is we were denied him for 2 years in the middle.

Who would have thunk the 1st November 2003 would be such a fortuitous day for Leinster rugby?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/rugby_world_cup/3230005.stm

Faugheen

What an absolute legend. He's not as good as he was when he came back but he's still an absolute stalwart who wouldn't look out of place in any club side. Leinster were blessed to keep him for so long as he absolutely would have made the big bucks in France if he wanted to.

Hopefully we can win the double so he can bow out a winner, which is exactly what he is.

Burkie1203

Sometimes words don't do justice to a guy. This is one such case. So......

Dave_The_Sheep

Always loved this try above most of his others. Absolutely bamboozles four defenders, and leaves Hamilton on the floor without touching him. Class.

One of the smartest rugby brains out there, I feel.

prawnsambo

Dave_The_Sheep wrote: »

Always loved this try above most of his others. Absolutely bamboozles four defenders, and leaves Hamilton on the floor without touching him. Class.

One of the smartest rugby brains out there, I feel.

Locky should have been pinged there for his lineout shenanigans.

Dave_The_Sheep

prawnsambo wrote: »

Locky should have been pinged there for his lineout shenanigans.

And it was arguably a forward pass from Horgan, but once Nacewa took over it was pure class from there on in. You're not bringing me down on my appreciate for this!

dub_skav

Absolute gent and certainly the best import to the Irish rugby system.
When you look at his class, versatility, longevity and leadership there were none better.

Thanks for everything Isa. Now, just the small matter of 2 trophies and some "one more year" chants in the RDS (and Lansdowne).

arsebiscuits1

Jesus there wont be a ticket had for the RDS semi now for Isa's farewell.

Ref might have to stop play for 5-10 minutes until the crowd dies down.

Assuming he doesn't play the full 80 like he always does haha.

Side note.

2010-11 season. He played 32 times for 2400 minutes. What an animal.

Thanks Isa. Sincerely

Dog Botherer

My favourite Isa moment (possibly improved by nostalgia and poor memory) is of him catching a touch finder one handed on the 22 after sprinting across the pitch to field it, not even breaking his stride, then ran it back, kicked it, and ended up with a line out on the oppositions 22. Think it was raining as well.

If anyone else remembers this i’d love to see video of it again. Equal chance that i’ve completely made it up though!

Thud

Dog Botherer wrote: »

My favourite Isa moment (possibly improved by nostalgia and poor memory) is of him catching a touch finder one handed on the 22 after sprinting across the pitch to field it, not even breaking his stride, then ran it back, kicked it, and ended up with a line out on the oppositions 22. Think it was raining as well.

If anyone else remembers this i’d love to see video of it again. Equal chance that i’ve completely made it up though!

Wasn't in Croke park was it? remember he made one huge momentum building catch in that game

Burkie1203

What a side

https://twitter.com/OwainJTJones/status/988751173015560192?s=19

Dog Botherer

Thud wrote: »

Wasn't in Croke park was it? remember he made one huge momentum building catch in that game

I feel like it was dark and rainy. Might be completely wrong though.

Trojan

prawnsambo wrote: »

He will finish with over 180 caps and over 700 points scored. Arguably the best foreign player ever to set foot in this country

There is no arguably about it. What a legend. I hope the team can pull off the double for him.

errlloyd

If the Isa we signed in 2008 and the Isa we signed in 2015 were two different players, I'd have them as the top 2 Leinster foreign signings. Pretty comfortably too.

Last year Isa Nacewa was the top try scorer in Champions Cup. This year he took up a new position and adapted as if it was no bother. He started 12 against Saracens and we wrecked them. I hope to hear some Isa chants, and one more, one more year.

Buer

It's funny to think that, 6 months after he arrived, people were far from convinced on his value to the team.

I never thought I'd be so disappointed to see a guy with a jheri curl leave.

stephen_n

What else can you say but... Isa, Isa, Isa, Isa

razorblunt

I hope he stays retired this time, that's the biggest compliment I can give him!

Steve

As in the Christy Moore song ... some jet off to frihilihana, Isa could have yet he stayed and has been the cornerstone of Leinster rugby for (ever) a long time.


Probably one of the best all round players Leinster ever had.

molloyjh

Dog Botherer wrote: »

I feel like it was dark and rainy. Might be completely wrong though.

Are you thinking of the one vs Leicester where he caught the ball with one hand and a hip while on the move?

Dog Botherer

molloyjh wrote: »

Are you thinking of the one vs Leicester where he caught the ball with one hand and a hip while on the move?

That sounds like the one!

Fake Edit: Actually it was against Clermont, there's a clip of the catch right at the start of this vid, can't find more unfortunately. Insane skill.

ProudIRISHman

Dougie Howlett Lite

Good but definitely not the best import.

It is not a coincidence that Íosa is Irish for Jesus, and Jesus is God.

Isa = God

Dave_The_Sheep

stephen_n wrote: »

What else can you say but... Isa, Isa, Isa, Isa

Going to be a bit awkward when Strauss and Isa are displayed on their final appearance in the RDS together as retiring ... and all they can both hear is Isa, Isa, Isa!

prawnsambo

About three minutes into this. Good few replays of it which give a better context.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B20Lggt_Rf4

leakyboots

Super player, probably the best of the imports across any of the four provinces you'd argue - brilliant footballer, intelligent and tough as nails but creative too. Always wondered - why he was out of the game for 2 years? There's a poster on another forum who hints at something negative but never spells it out.

ProudIRISHman

ProudIRISHman wrote: »

Dougie Howlett Lite

Good but definitely not the best import.

Go on then, who was a better import

prawnsambo

leakyboots wrote: »

Super player, probably the best of the imports across any of the four provinces you'd argue - brilliant footballer, intelligent and tough as nails but creative too. Always wondered - why he was out of the game for 2 years? There's a poster on another forum who hints at something negative but never spells it out.

There's always somebody with a conspiracy theory. :rolleyes:

He said at the time he was giving up rugby completely and he'd never play for anyone but Leinster. But he announced he was retiring to Leinster management a while before it was announced publicly and they had tried to get him to stay. It was mooted at the time that his wife wanted his children to go to school in NZ and not Ireland.

He was as good as his word. He never played for anyone but Leinster. The Blues tried to persuade him to play for them but he refused.

Former Former

He had to retire in Ireland to get his tax relief. That's about as sinister as it gets.

LeinsterDub

Legend of a player. Always half expected to one day see him line out at 2

Dave_The_Sheep

Dave_The_Sheep wrote: »

Going to be a bit awkward when Strauss and Isa are displayed on their final appearance in the RDS together as retiring ... and all they can both hear is Isa, Isa, Isa!

Sure when the ISA ISA ISA is starting to die down I'll start up a Straussy Straussy Straussy so long as you join in...!

prawnsambo

swiwi_

ProudIRISHman wrote: »

Dougie Howlett Lite

Good but definitely not the best import.

Jeepers mate you’re painful based on the posts I’ve seen. He might weigh less than Howlett, if that’s what you’re suggesting??

Squidgy Black

swiwi_ wrote: »

Jeepers mate you’re painful based on the posts I’ve seen. He might weigh less than Howlett, if that’s what you’re suggesting??

Dougie's listed as 93kg on Wikipedia and Isa as 91kg, so he's not wrong there....

errlloyd

I just can't get over Isa.

As far as I can remember he's made the Heineken cup longlist for player of the tournament 3 times. The first playing the majority of his rugby at fullback, the second on the wing and the third time at centre. Outrageous.

Leinster rugby has his position listed as "universal back". He's a freak. Top try scorer in the champions cup last year too.

prawnsambo

Forgot to mention that he's scored 54 tries so far. Not sure where that stands in the Leinster table but it has to be up there.

Burkie1203

prawnsambo wrote: »

Forgot to mention that he's scored 54 tries so far. Not sure where that stands in the Leinster table but it has to be up there.

Horgan is the record holder with 68 I think so Isa wouldn't be too far down the list

prawnsambo

Burkie1203 wrote: »

Horgan is the record holder with 68 I think so Isa wouldn't be too far down the list

Horgan has 69 according to the Leinster website. But that page only credits Nacewa with 43. I counted 54 from his individual stats on the same site.

Need to look at it again.

Edit: And I was wrong . It's actually 47. The difference is this season's stats aren't included in the stats page I linked above. Which places him in 5th behind Denis Hickie (55), Gordon D'Arcy (60), Brian O'Driscoll (61) and Shane Horgan (69).

He's 4th top points scorer (700) behind Ian Madigan (827), Jonny Sexton (1217) and Felipe Contepomi (1225). As those stats don't include this season, Jonny Sexton is now the top points scorer on 1322.

Sangre

prawnsambo wrote: »

Horgan has 69 according to the Leinster website. But that page only credits Nacewa with 43. I counted 54 from his individual stats on the same site.

Need to look at it again.

Edit: And I was wrong . It's actually 47. The difference is this season's stats aren't included in the stats page I linked above. Which places him in 5th behind Denis Hickie (55), Gordon D'Arcy (60), Brian O'Driscoll (61) and Shane Horgan (69).

He's 4th top points scorer (700) behind Ian Madigan (827), Jonny Sexton (1217) and Felipe Contepomi (1225). As those stats don't include this season, Jonny Sexton is now the top points scorer on 1322.

Wow, I didn't realise that D'arcy had scored so many. Always thought of him as a creater rather than a finisher.

Buer

Sangre wrote: »

Wow, I didn't realise that D'arcy had scored so many. Always thought of him as a creater rather than a finisher.

He was a full back and winger for the first 3-4 seasons with Leinster and scored a decent number of tries.

prawnsambo

Buer wrote: »

He was a full back and winger for the first 3-4 seasons with Leinster and scored a decent number of tries.

He's also the top capped player for Leinster with 257. Nacewa should be inside the top ten at the end of this season. He should probably get another three caps if he plays in all the big games leaving him on 185, ahead of Mal O'Kelly on 183. BOD finished on 186.

Synode

I'm getting emotional here. What a player and an absolute gentleman. He'll be sorely missed. Hopefully we go and win everything this year for Isa, Strauss and Jamie

ProudIRISHman

Deleted User wrote: »

Go on then, who was a better import

I think most level headed people outside of Leinster would agree that Doug Howlett was a better player but Nacewa was useful however. A good player and great character. If we're talking solely rugby though, Howlett was an animal.

irishbucsfan

ProudIRISHman wrote: »

I think most level headed people outside of Leinster would agree that Doug Howlett was a better player but Nacewa was useful however. A good player and great character. If we're talking solely rugby though, Howlett was an animal.

Interesting to note that Doug Howlett and Isa Nacewa arrived in Ireland the same year.

No doubt whose impact has been greater. 3 European medals (so far) for Isa and a whole host of other important contributions.

D'Arcy was right in his article when he said Isa isn't just Leinster's best import, he's Leinster's best player of the professional era.

Buer

He came and transformed rugby in Leinster. He arrived at a team in turmoil who could not see the light. He showed them the way and led them to the promised land performing miracle after miracle, convincing the doubters and bringing joy.

In 2013, he was cruelly taken away from us but in the third season, he came again to take his rightful place in Leinster rugby.

He will now ascend into the heavens and return to NZ.

We'll never have a signing like him again. Iosa.

prawnsambo

A lot of similarities in their backgrounds though. They both went to the same school and played for the same Super Rugby team (The Blues) before moving to Ireland. The only difference is their international careers and Nacewa's unfortunate sub appearance for Fiji put an end to his chances of playing for the ABs. I don't think anyone would believe that wasn't a possibility.

arsebiscuits1

ProudIRISHman wrote: »

I think most level headed people outside of Leinster would agree that Doug Howlett was a better player but Nacewa was useful however. A good player and great character. If we're talking solely rugby though, Howlett was an animal.

30 odd posts and you haven't managed that yet though :pac: ?