In-form Heaslip shrugs off hype to focus on Roman conquest

LAST week at Croke Park there was no argument about the man-of-the-match award, just wholesale approval when the name of Ireland’s Jamie Heaslip was announced after a superb performance against France.

“I suppose it was as satisfying an individual performance as I have experienced,” said Heaslip this week, but the Naas and Leinster number eight was deflecting attention from himself.

“Really, I wasn’t that pushed from my own point of view, I’m far happier for the team as a whole, the fact that we got the win and such a good win, the fact that we played good rugby.

“A good performance is half the battle and so it was an away-we-go feeling; we’re happy to be in the position we’re in.”

Competition for places in the Irish back row is far fiercer than in many other countries, but Heaslip is pragmatic about that competition.

“It’s a team game and there are many specialised positions. I have always assumed there would be big competition for places and I’ve experienced that at club, provincial and now international levels.”

Even before last week’s win over France, there was a good atmosphere in the Irish camp and Heaslip gives much of the credit for that to the coaching team.

“It’s a very open scene; all of the coaches in their own way bring a lot to the table. The players find it easy to talk to the management, all of whom are very approachable and very open in letting you know how they feel you’re playing, how they want you to play, or rather how they think you should be playing. It’s very much a team effort,” he says.

Although supporters are still talking about the excitement generated in Croke Park, talk of Ireland’s victory has ceased amongst the players.

This week was all about Italy and Heaslip is certain that it will be a totally different but nonetheless equally tough challenge.

“Italy defend differently, they sometimes come up very quickly and use a four-man rush, so maybe we won’t get as much space to attack as we did against France.

“We have had to plan for that, adapt to that and we have been training in the way we want to play against them.”

Heaslip sympathised with the Italians’ heavy defeat against England at Twickenham: “From what I can gather, they only had six days to prepare for that match while England, like us, had two weeks in camp before our respective opening games.

“Italy also got punished for some remarkable mistakes they don’t normally make, mistakes that are unlikely to be repeated in a second game.

“It’s a whole new ball game and we’re under no illusions as to how difficult this one could be. We’re certainly prepared for a really tough match.”