Heaslip driven for success

HE MAY be the second most inexperienced player in Ireland’s starting XV for tomorrow’s Six Nations clash with Wales but Jamie Heaslip has slotted seamlessly into the Ireland back row, so much so that he has no issue firing a few verbals at his team-mates when he feels the need to make a point.

In appearance terms he may be a newcomer but he can be quite vocal on the field, a point reinforced by Denis Leamy after Heaslip’s Six Nations debut against France last month.

“I have no problem telling someone if they’re wrong and if someone has had a word with me I take any criticism on the chin,” Heaslip says. “I have no problem voicing my opinion.

“The fact I don’t have many caps doesn’t faze me. All I know is that I have two more than Robert Kearney, as I was telling him earlier in the week. As long as I go out there, do my job and get the respect of those guys who have the experience. If they respect you they’ll play for you and that’s what I want. Even though I don’t have as many caps I can try to set an example for everyone else to follow.”

He adds: “I’ve found the step up to international level okay. The only game that was fast was the first 20 minutes of the France game, which was like lightening. But apart from that I’ve been okay and have adjusted well to the pace.”

A new player on the scene naturally invites extra media scrutiny, but Heaslip’s player reviews to date have been hugely positive since his eye-catching contribution against France in the Stade de France. A tidy operator and solid in defence, he showed his creative side with a reverse pass for David Wallace’s try against Scotland. His father Richard, he says, used it while playing second row with Shannon in by-gone days. “The coaches and Merv (Murphy), the video analyst, spotted that. We had a look at it and that was the plan. It’s an old move and I remember my dad saying he used that move about 20-odd years ago. We saw that they went a little bit too hard at times, especially with Reddan posing a threat, and it worked for us. We said let’s have a go because it’s on and Wally was in under the posts.”

Still the spotlight falls on him. He describes his media duties in the last few weeks as “intense” but friends and family have helped keep his feet on the ground. “You do hear the good things in the press, but people also write plenty of bad things too so that balances it out. You have to put it into perspective and can’t get carried away with yourself. It’s been quite intense with the press over the last couple of weeks compared to Leinster when people are interested in a few Heineken Cup games. With Ireland it’s every week. There’s a bit more attention but that doesn’t bother me.”

Hanging out with friends and staying with his girlfriend in Armagh last weekend have proved ideal antidotes to the media frenzy building ahead of the Wales match and the media’s obsession with Gatland’s and O’Sullivan’s falling-out seven years ago. But he is loathe to be drawn into the great Gatland/O’Sullivan debate. His manner off the field is in complete contrast to his brashness on it. “The players don’t take any notice of it,” says Heaslip. “There’s no point because everything is out of your hands. I’ve never been coached by Warren so I can’t comment on anything like that. There’s obviously a bit of history there but it’s nothing really.”

While Jamie never worked under Gatland, his brother Graham captained Connacht under the Kiwi during his tenure as coach (1996-98). Graham was also part of a Connacht side that claimed a famous European Shield win over Bordeaux-Begles 11 years ago. The point of Jamie’s first meeting with Gatland was unorthodox to say the least. “I was young at the time,” remembers Jamie. “I met Warren once in the back of a car after a Connacht game. That was it. I said ‘hi’ to him and then shut up because I didn’t really know who he was. Graham told me who he was. I just wanted to play soccer and wasn’t too concerned about what was going on. It was more my Dad pestering Graham with questions about Warren. But he doesn’t seem such a bad fella.”

He hasn’t looked out of place in his Ireland matches so far and tomorrow his opposite number is Ryan Jones, the Wales captain. Another huge challenge, but one he’s relishing. “I played against him once last year but I know the sort of havoc he can cause. I’ll definitely do my homework on him because he’s a handful all right. I’ve been looking at him on TV and there’s no doubt he’ll cause some problems for us in the back row. But if I’m on top of my game then hopefully I’ll be able to keep him somewhat quiet.”