Heaslip: Beating Italy is all that matters now
Such is the nature of this tournament that a losing bonus point for Ireland may be enough to secure a route into the last eight as a runner up in Pool C but Heaslip is refusing to go down that route, insisting that the Irish must play to win at the Otago Stadium in Dunedin on Sunday.
“You can do the permutations and all that sort of thing but it would make life a whole lot easier if we go out there with the intention of winning,” Heaslip said.
“There’s no point in thinking we can draw, or lose with a bonus point, or any of that crap. We must just go out there and win it. They’re a tough team; they’re going to stick it to us at set phase, scrums and line-outs, and all around the field so we’re going to have our work cut out for us.”
Heaslip is one of a trio of players to have started all three of Ireland’s Pool C games; he, lock Donncha O’Callaghan and back Keith Earls all being retained for yesterday’s nine-try to two, 62-12 romp over Russia in Rotorua.
The Leinster back rower will also be ready for a fourth Test in as many weeks this Sunday.
“It’s so intense. It’s just bang, bang, bang. Our video analysts and coaches have their work cut out for them, because they have to think in advance. We’re blessed because we only have to think a week ahead of us.”
Heaslip, who was retained for the Russia game to give him much needed game time after an injury-hit pre-season, spoke of his appreciation of the squad players who came into the line-up to face the Russians.
“I think what we got from today was great. A lot of guys got a good run-out, I was happy to get another 80 minutes under my belt. Seanie (O’Brien) ran well as well, Dunners (Donnacha Ryan) ran well at six and even a new second-row, all our subs came on (and) made impacts; Leams, Jenno, all the boys. It was a really good day for the squad.”
Heaslip declared himself happy with his form and welcomed the chance the team got to run the ball more than their previous outings against the USA and Australia.
“In the last two games I had to do a lot of grunt work but that just happens in games and you’ve just got to get with it and go with it.
“It was really nice to get some ball today, get running onto the ball in the channels that I like, the 10-12 channel and 13 channel, getting through the ball, running lines, getting offloads, offloading myself. It was great getting onto the ball.”
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