Hard-nosed Heaslip hitting the high spots

A QUICK examination of Jamie Heaslip’s curriculum vitae, and you realise why he has come so far so soon.

In fact, a few months ago, when the All Blacks triumphantly toured Europe, there was surprise among the younger set of Graham Henry’s squad that Heaslip hadn’t figured in Eddie O’Sullivan’s autumn plans.

James Ryan, one of the young stars Down Under, played against Heaslip in an Under-21 World Cup final in Scotland two years ago.