Everything about Isa Nacewa seems unflappably measured and consistent.
His play, his thinking and his demeanour roll into a composite of abilities that form a consummate professional player.
Reliable and gifted, but nor is he fearful of criticising the performance of the team or pointing out its short comings.
When a recharged Edinburgh came out at half time last week and "really shocked" Leinster, who were forced to hold on to the win, Nacewa put the blame for that firmly at the feet of the team leaders. In that group he would be including himself.
"I think it's up to the game leaders on the field to manage the game better, to manage certain situations better and not let the momentum get away from you," said the Leinster captain and utility back, who tonight will play on the right wing. Nacewa has an advantage in that as he is not a member of an international squad he is a consistent presence in the side week in week out. When the November series arrives he will be there. When the Six Nations takes over, Nacewa will try to galvanise the team without key players. Management is his thing, and against Ospreys that will be central to a good outcome.
“You’ve got to be able to manage the ref, manage the situation on the field, the type of play we need to use just to calm things down,” he says.
“But Ospreys are a class team and in the best form at the top of the competition, so how we manage it as leaders out on the field is important.”
To that end Johnny Sexton is back in at outhalf after an impressive few cameos from Joey Carbery, who laid down some tracks that indicate his transition from AIL to professional rugby is in the right groove. But there's no two ways about it. Sexton is Sexton.
“Ah, look, Johnny’s experience speaks for itself,” says the captain. “He’s a world-class ten. He loves the pressure and he loves the responsibility of being out there leading. He’s helped Joey all season. There is a good feeling within the group giving back to one another, helping each other through the season. Joey’s been great. “He’s exciting to play with. They are two different players. We play together as a team, and they put the team first which is most important.”
Nacewa has been around the various positions and knows from first hand Sexton will change the way Leinster play.
How the team fold in around the outhalf is crucial. Sexton is such a strong personality on the pitch and because his game is driven by that he always has a significant influence on the match. He has the presence and character to make himself central to almost everything.
Now in his first game back after shoulder surgery, Leinster may factor in a little rustiness, some wriggle room for Sexton to bed in for his competitive debut. Despite the muscle memory, all of his familiarity with the play book and the players around him and the dimensions of the RDS pitch, they can't expect him to become the perfect general straight away. "We've tweaked a few things this season already. Being out on the wing or at full-back, we're just trying to work more cohesively as a backline and as a whole unit," says Nacewa. "I think that has shown in the first couple of performances, and it is something we're trying to improve each week.
“Johnny takes a lot of weight off the rest of the guys around him and uses that. That’s how he likes to run the game.”
From the wing that is a difficult to do. But Nacewa is a similar type of player in the sense of assuming responsibility and radiating surety in the way he plays and manages his game. Ospreys will demand that. No lapses tonight. Nacewa is on it.
