Wolverine-inspired Ian Nimmo ready to go (From Free Press Series)

Wolverine-inspired Ian Nimmo ready to go

8:40am Saturday 26th January 2013 in Sport By Chris Kirwan

THE motto 'a pack is only as strong as the wolf and the wolf is only as strong as the pack' was introduced by Newport Gwent Dragons forwards coach Rob Appleyard in pre-season.

One of his charges appears to have misheard the slogan.

When lock Ian Nimmo suffered a knee injury in the victory at Mogliano he told the medical staff not to worry.

“I heal like Wolverine”, said the 27-year-old, referring to the comic book superhero known for his rapid powers of recovery.

He was true to his word, coming back a month ahead of schedule to take a place on the bench against Wasps in the Amlin Challenge Cup last week.

“They all thought I was joking... well, maybe I was having a laugh with the Wolverine part but I was deadly serious about healing quickly,” said Nimmo.

“Throughout my career I seem to have got back from injury ahead of schedule and just as well, the days are so much longer without training and I have the attention span of a goldfish.”

The Scottish lock, who signed from Cornish Pirates last summer, didn't get on the pitch against Wasps last week but is poised to make a cameo when the Dragons take on the Ospreys in the LV= Cup this evening.

“I was really chuffed to get back and be on the bench last week,” he said. “I was just grateful to be involved and I totally understood why I didn't get on. Rob Sidoli and Andrew Coombs were doing a great job in the second row and it's about the team doing well, so it wasn't too peed off.

“Hopefully I'll get some game time tonight and get back towards full fitness. I feel nice and fresh but it'll be good to get back in the swing of things and take a few knocks.”

That will be against a young Ospreys side deprived of their Wales stars and allowing their seasoned campaigners to put their feet up ahead of their push for the RaboDirect Pro12 playoffs.

But Nimmo believes the exuberance of youth will make the west Walians an unpredictable beast as they bid to repeat their New Year's Eve victory at Rodney Parade, only their second in Newport since their inception.

“Derbies are always tough games and we have to be aware of the fact that they are a young team that wants to prove themselves,” he said.

“The personnel will be different and that means you have to take things from the analysis with a pinch of salt. They will have similar systems but everything will be slightly less predictable.”