'Massive challenge' to beat 'mastermind' Rassie - Nash

It’s a “massive challenge” for Ireland to head to Loftus Versfeld and try and get a victory, especially against a “mastermind” like Rassie Erasmus.

That praise came from Munster and Ireland winger Calvin Nash, who will line up against the Boks on Saturday and knows the Loftus Versfeld pitch pretty well.

Nash was part of a Munster side that won at Loftus earlier this year and was at the province when Erasmus coached there with sidekick Jacques Nienaber.

“Erasmus gave me my debut but other than that I didn’t have much dealings with him,” said Nash, who holds Erasmus in high regard.

“I tried to learn as much as possible from Rassie, and Jacques when he was there.

“They’re masterminds and great coaches.”

Nash added that while Ireland were full of confidence, it was a “massive challenge” for his side to win at Loftus Versfeld.

"It's hard enough winning a game in the URC down here. I can only imagine what an international test is going to be like," he said.

"The coaches have told us what a massive challenge it is. Paulie was saying that only one Irish team has ever won here internationally, so that's another massive challenge and something we have to get over ourselves and hopefully come up with a positive result."

That win came in 2016 when CJ Stander was shown a red card for taking out Pat Lambie in the air, while the last time the two sides met at Loftus Versfeld in 1998 it was an all out brawl at times.

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ALTITUDE NOT A BIG CONCERN

But things have changed dramatically since then and Nash knows a lot more about his opposition this week.

“Some of the players will be in the URC. It makes it easier to find footage,” Nash said.

“You’d just be all over their traits and their threats. But other than that we will focus on ourselves while being conscious of the threats they have. But we will focus on our connections.”

Altitude is also shrugged off as something that isn’t a concern for the winger, as he has experienced it before.

“There is no real effect on mindset, to be fair. Rugby is still rugby at the end of the day. Have to be more worried about kicks going a bit further. But it’s just heightened awareness about that. Other than that, we’re seeing similar pictures and it doesn’t change very much. Both teams have to play at altitude, so whoever deals with it the best will win I suppose.”

Nash will be hoping for space aplenty on the hard Loftus field to showcase his skills, but knows that against the Bok back three his defence will be just as important on the day.

But there is a calmness about him, especially after doing really well in the Six Nations.

“Six Nations helped me a lot, a lot more calmness coming into the international stage,” he added.

“Getting to know the lads was probably the main thing for me. Knowing what they’re doing on the pitch, but the off-the-field relationships are massive and what helps the team be stronger.

“It’s been class to get over here, spend more time with the lads, and get to know people more.”

The test kicks off at 5pm on Saturday.