Sevens screen trick helping Eve Higgins on 15s stage

Eve Higgins at an Ireland press conference in Whittlebury Park, Northampton. Pic: Ben Brady, Inpho

Eve Higgins says her experiences on the Sevens circuit helped her in more ways than one during Ireland’s opening World Cup victory in Franklin’s Gardens.

On one hand, there is a trick Higgins picked up which came in handy running while running in a length-of-the-field score. Her intercept try came at a critical moment as Japan’s second half comeback was quashed during the 42-14 win. “It’s funny, it was said was I looking at the [big] screen,” explains the Ireland centre. “That’s something you learn from sevens.

“Sometimes you break away and the only way to see if someone is chasing you is to look at the screen. When I looked up and saw Leigh [Amee-Leigh Costigan] was the closest behind me that’s when the smile came forward and the grimace went away.” 

As well as the on-field benefit, Higgins points to how the nature of Sevens as an entity equipped multiple members of this Ireland World Cup squad with valuable tools. “It’s exposure,” explains the Railway Union back.

“Playing some of the best players in the world. Portia Woodman, Ilona Maher, throughout all teams there’s a lot of sevens players. Getting that constant exposure nearly every month of playing those teams multiple times at a tournament is huge.

“Then playing in front of big crowds, we saw it in Paris [Olympics] last year, stadiums packed with 60,000 the sound was a huge experience. It’s nice to have those in the back pocket.” 

Perhaps inevitably given the dynamics of a team environment, Higgins’ match-defining intercept try has led to a bout of slagging from those around her. Once the joy of the win died down, Higgins’ dive over the line mid-try became a strong target.

“A lot of my teammates have taken the mickey out of me, photoshopped me [diving] in different places,” she says. “I don’t think I’ll ever release them and I don’t think they will as well. When you’ve a lot of time on your hands… 

“It’s funny, in sevens I would never [celebrate]. Someone scores a try and it’s get back in 30 seconds and go again. But in 15s there’s the place kick. You’ve time to enjoy and smile.

“When we look back, these are moments you might not live again. Playing in a World Cup, it’s huge. We didn’t do it last time. These come around every for years, it’s extremely special so why not enjoy it?”