Heaslip: we were our own worst enemies at times

THE importance of a focused Jamie Heaslip was graphically highlighted on Saturday when he stood shoulder to shoulder with the best of the All Blacks.

The Leinster forward was unable to stop Ireland slipping to a 20-point defeat but his contribution didn’t go unnoticed by coach Declan Kidney.

“I suppose we could slag (Jamie) off and say that it would have been great had he stayed on the field back in June,” Kidney smiled, before elaborating: “He probably would have played the same way (then); he has been playing consistently well like that for a while.