Fine margins costly for Ireland, says Jamie Heaslip
Joe Schmidt’s men came into the tournament looking to make history by becoming the first team to ever win three titles on the trot. But, lose to Scotland this weekend, and Ireland will finish second bottom, ahead of only Italy – far from the desired outcome.
Having suffered a humiliating group stage exit from last year’s World Cup, Eddie Jones’ England have a Grand Slam in their sights, but Heaslip doesn’t believe there’s a grand chasm between the pair.
“I think we’ve won this competition (in the last two years) by the same margin we’ve lost it by this year, it’s very fine margins,” he said.
“England have won it, but I don’t think there has been much in a lot of the games. I know England have the four out of four wins and are going for the Grand Slam, but not all those games have been easy for them.
“I think they got a bit of a shock there at the weekend with the comeback from Wales.
"France will definitely be licking their lips at the opportunity (Saturday night). But, in general, I think it just shows the level of opportunity, if you make a mistake you get punished.
"I think England are probably the most the most clinical side in the competition, it just highlights that. But I think the standard is getting better and better every year.”
Ireland came into the tournament without a host of first-team regulars, with retirement and injury hampering Schmidt’s plans, but Heaslip believes the players who have stepped in will have learned hugely.
“I think it just shows players those fine margins,” he said. “It shows that a lot of hard work has to be put in to put yourself in the situation where you might get that [positive] outcome.
"It shows that outcome is determined by that effort, and that body of work you put in.
"It is not just in a day out, two days out, three days out, a week out, but the whole entire season, putting work in daily, so that you give yourself the opportunity to be in with a shout to win something.”
Heaslip’s Leinster team mate Josh Van der Flier is one of the new breed to have made the breakthrough and his impact has been no surprise to his fellow back row. Having seen Van der Flier come through the ranks at provincial level, Heaslip had the inside track on the nerveless flanker.
“I’ve seen his progress from afar, when he was coming up through the academy, the A team, the senior squad,” Heaslip said.
“Then showing this year what he’s about, his work ethic, his skill, his relentlessness. Just being a really, really good pro, transitioning into Ireland camp really well.
"He’s always on top of his work, you never had to worry about him in terms of game knowledge or holding him by the hand.
“He’s an unbelievably good pro. He goes about his work very quietly, he’s a lovely lad off the field but I’m giving him an awful slagging because he’s always going around with his notepad, he’s taking notes the whole time, he knows his job role inside out.
“The guy hasn’t missed a step, and that’s why he’s here, he’s putting his hand up and he’s asking some tough questions of the coaches.”
Some tough questions may be asked if Ireland fail to see off a resurgent Scotland this weekend, but Heaslip insists it cannot all be about the result if the team want to progress.
“This may sound weird but I wouldn’t be too worried about the outcome,” he argued. “I would be more worried about areas that we could improve on. Can we improve on them – and not take any steps back or make the same mistakes?
“When I look at a body of games, that is more how I feel a group will get better. You can play your best game and still lose. So, as much as we want to win, it is pretty intangible in my head. We have got to break it back down to the process we were talking about. That is how my head works.”
Rob Kearney has been ruled out of Saturday’s game as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury which ruled him out of the win over Italy.
Eoin Reddan and Cian Healy, who was a late withdrawal from the squad for the Italy game, are also continuing their rehab programmes, with a view to training today. Robbie Henshaw, Andrew Trimble, and Keith Earls required stitches after the weekend win but all are fit to play on Saturday.
F Bealham (Corinthians/Connacht), R Best (Banbridge/Ulster), S Cronin (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), U Dillane (Corinthians/Connacht), D Foley (UL Bohemians/Munster), C Healy (Clontarf/Leinster), J Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster), D Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster), J McGrath (St Mary’s College/Leinster), T O’Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster), J O’Donoghue (UL Bohemians/Munster),* M Ross (Clontarf/Leinster), R Ruddock (St Mary’s College/Leinster), D Ryan (Shannon/Munster), CJ Stander (Munster), R Strauss (Old Wesley/Leinster), D Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster), J van der Flier (UCD/Leinster), N White (Connacht).
A Conway (Garryowen/Munster),* K Earls (Young Munster/Munster), C Gilroy (Dungannon/Ulster), R Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht), P Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster), I Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster), K Marmion (Corinthians/ Connacht), L Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster), S McCloskey (Ballynahinch/Ulster), F McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster), C Murray (Garryowen/Munster), J Payne (Ulster), E Reddan (Old Crescent/Leinster), J Sexton (St Mary’s College/Leinster), A Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster), S Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster).
*denotes uncapped player
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