Still around to defend Republican’s effrontery? (5)

I believe the answer is:

nerve

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'effrontery?' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'still around to defend republican's' is the wordplay.
'still' becomes 'inert' (not moving).
'around' says to take the centre.
'to defend republican' becomes 've' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
The central letters of 'inert' are 'ner'.
'ner'+'ve'='NERVE'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for nerve that I've seen before include "Fibre that transmits instructions to the brain" , "Bodily fibre that communicates sensations" , "Audacity (informal)" , "Grit" , "Bodily fibre carrying sensation" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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