Heaslip: We’re in good shape ahead of Aussies clash

JAMIE HEASLIP believes Ireland are in good shape heading into their Pool C showdown with Australia on Saturday.

Despite a below-par performance in defeating Rugby World Cup minnows the United States yesterday, Heaslip’s assessment was all about the positives, both from the tussle with America and looking ahead to the clash with group favourites the Wallabies.

“We played to a better shape, we probably got a lot of cobwebs out of us,” Heaslip said.

“I know myself, I’ve only had a game and a half coming into this and a two-week break so it was great to get in a shift and I know a lot of the lads will be the same.

“I think we’re in good shape. I haven’t looked at them (Australia), I know probably the management have. We’ll assess our game tomorrow and park that and move on to Australia and see what they’re all about.”

Ireland arrive in Auckland today ahead of the Eden Park meeting with the Aussies and the Leinster number eight said he was happy with the way Ireland held a hard-hitting American side at bay to get the victory.

“They brought a serious degree of physicality to it and the conditions kind of made for a game that was in close,” said Heaslip.

“They made it tough, they hit hard and they carry hard and caused us a lot of problems at the ruck but, yeah, very happy sitting in that changing room with a win under the belt.

“We always said if you’re going to win this competition you’ve got to get out of your group and to get out of your group you’ve got to win your games. We focused on the first game, we’ll look at it tomorrow and then we’ll look at Australia after that.”

Heaslip’s view of a chaotic-looking breakdown situation against the Americans brought a chuckle from the back rower. “Yeah, it was a bit mental all right,” he said.

“It was probably a combination of, at times, maybe us lacking just one extra person at the breakdown and they bringing a serious physical presence to it as well.

“We got caught napping once or twice around the ruck and obviously that’s going to be worked on this week but in general though, I think set-pieces and just general play was a lot better and with a lot better shape, I thought.”