Heaslip: jealous of Wales' Six Nations record

Jamie Heaslip has admitted he is “jealous” of Wales’ superlative RBS 6 Nations record.

Ireland’s vice-captain revealed he looks covetously upon Wales’ Grand Slam successes of 2005, 2008 and 2012, and their championship win in 2013.

Ireland claimed the Grand Slam in 2009, their sole tournament victory since five nations became six in 2000.

Number eight Heaslip has helped Leinster to three Heineken Cup triumphs, a feat he believes Wales’ stars would envy.

But the 30-year-old admitted Ireland have ground to cover to catch Wales on the international stage, especially with Warren Gatland’s men chasing a record third-straight Six Nations title.

“I wouldn’t say frustration: you’d be jealous,” said Heaslip of Wales’ record.

“I’ve lost count of how many Six Nations medals those lads have.

“But on the other hand they’ll be jealous of how many European and club medals we’ve got.

“I’m a little bit jealous of the success they have, but the great thing about sport is that it doesn’t count right now.

“Last week doesn’t count even, it’s all on the day.

“You give them the respect they deserve for what they’ve done, but then you get on with it.”

Ireland will field nine British Lions tourists from 2013 in their starting line-up in Dublin on Saturday, with Wales unleashing 12.

Lions loose-forward Heaslip said while the two sets of players mix famously off the field, he will not seek motivation in that friendly rivalry, save chasing bragging rights.

“I don’t have any vendettas or animosity towards anyone,” said Heaslip.

“There’s a competitive rivalry because we play against each other so often.

“But afterwards lads have drinks together, lads have chats.

“People stay in touch, Johnny Sexton’s pretty pally with Dan Lydiate over in Racing Metro.

“I suppose you want the bragging rights when you see them.

“But the flip side is we play each other so many times in so many different competitions, it can change so quickly.

“This time round obviously, we want the bragging rights.

“It’s gone the flip of a coin the last few years as to who’s going to win.

“There’s not a whole lot between the sides, and I suppose that’s why the games are so interesting.

“It has become one of those really good rivalries.

“My parents are quite good friends with Adam Jones’ folks; they will meet up and there’s a lot of slagging going on.

“There’s a lot of that from fans as well, and it really just feeds into it.

“In terms of my preparation, I just like to get my frame of mind.

“It’s a mix of wanting to go on a night out with your buddies, of wanting that feeling of playing rugby with your mates at school.

“And then the state of mind to be able to keep going, it takes a lot in these type of games to constantly get off the line, make tackles, get up, get round the corner, and do all the physical stuff, but have to think your way through the game as well.

“Just getting yourself in that footballing state of mind.

“I find the more relaxed I am leading into it the better I go.”

Heaslip might ease off, but admitted others still like to get wound up, confirming good, old-fashioned tub-thumping is no thing of the past.

“The front-row are so weird sometimes, I’ve seen guys head-butt each other, I’ve seen guys nearly get in a fight with each other: but it’s on that tipping point,” he said.

“Then I’ve seen guys reading a book, in the same changing room, just sitting there reading a book.

“Different guys go through different processes, and what works for me won’t necessarily work for someone else.”

Where players’ last-minute methods differ, Heaslip said Ireland boss Schimdt and Wales counterpart and Lions coach Gatland do not.

“Both are quite similar in that upon arrival there might be a few words, but then, it’s over to you boys, and the players run it from them on,” said Heaslip.

“They might be around on the field when the players are warming up, talking to different players and things.

“But pretty quickly after arrival it’s handed over to the players by both coaches, from then on in it’s up to us.”