Heaslip: Irish have laid World Cup foundation

JAMIE HEASLIP believes the trophy-laden Irish provinces will provide the platform for a dynamic Irish challenge at the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand come September.

The Irish and Lions number eight will have painful memories of Leinster’s last game of the season as he jets off on a four week holiday, but he is convinced that the annexing of European and Magners League titles by Leinster and Munster will provide Declan Kidney’s squad with the confidence required to compete favourably against the world’s best.

“Some pundits wrote off certain players during the Six Nations, but it (recent evidence) goes to show what they know about rugby. The competitive spirit, the physicality, and the skill produced over and over again by the Irish teams in Europe and in the Magners was uplifting.