Jamie Heaslip fingers crossed as D Day looms

The build-up has been interminable. As always.

Well over two months have passed since Joe Schmidt first gathered his expanded panel of players at Ireland’s HQ in Kildare and another two weeks have still to be negotiated before the side’s opening Pool D encounter with Canada.

Jamie Heaslip couldn’t believe how time had flown when the head coach made just that point earlier this week, but the Leinster number eight insists that time flying by is just what happens when you are a professional rugby player focused on the now.