THE LOWDOWN.. LOOK NO FURTHER!

Reds ace Nankivell has the inside track on new boss man

- BY DEREK FOLEY

TEAK-TOUGH Munster centre Alex Nankivell made his debut for the Chiefs in 2017 with his breakthrough season coming in 2019.

His time from there to 2023 at the Wakaito club included three Super Rugby playoffs and one runners-up spot before gaining two caps for the All Blacks in July 2023 ahead of his switch to Munster for 2023/24.

Consequently it is Nankivell, more than any other player at the southern province, who knows new Munster boss Clayton McMillan, best.

McMillan, appointed Chiefs head coach in 2021, delivered all his playoffs and that 2023 final - before making a further playoff in 2024 and winning the tournament in 2025.

No wonder Nankivell was delighted to hear Munster had secured the services of his former coach ahead of the coming season. He said: “Yeah, it’s pretty cool. When I found out he was on the shortlist to get the job, I was quite excited by that fact.

“He's a great man. He's quite a reserved guy, he'll kind of do his work in the background but he's really good at managing people, managing players and getting everyone really aligned.