EXACTLY ONE YEAR out from the World Cup, Jamie Heaslip admits that the global tournament is in the back of his mind and that his aspirations involve a winner’s medal.
There is a season with Leinster, November Tests and a Six Nations to negotiate before the 30-year-old can fully concentrate on Ireland’s fixtures against France, Italy, Canada and Romania.
However, memories of 2011′s quarter-final defeat to Wales remain present in Heaslip’s mind and, when his focus does shift to the World Cup, they will drive his motivation.
“It’s the only thing I haven’t won. I play to win; I don’t play to take part,” says Heaslip.
“I know last time there was a good bit of frustration in terms of the fact we could have and should have beaten Wales on the day. There were two or three silly, basic errors that cost us tries.
Even with that we still could have won the game, in a weird sort of way, because we were in it. There was a lot of frustration among guys who knew that was their last World Cup and I know a lot of guys would have high hopes of pushing on and getting further in the competition.
“I just think back to what it was like and the fact that we could have got to a World Cup semi-final and we probably have a bit more practise in that tournament format than some other teams, from [playing in] the European Cup.”
Heaslip believes that the tournament being hosted in England and Wales lends Ireland a strong advantage too.
“There is the fact, as well, that it is at home. Well, it might as well be at home. I know people in London and Cardiff and it will be more or less like playing in Dublin, so there are a lot of things going for us there.”
The issue of player welfare management is likely to be an important factor in the 2014/15 season, as the IRFU look to ensure their leading internationals do not burn out ahead of the World Cup.
Heaslip says the players themselves will simply want to play, and admits he’s glad that such delicate decisions are left to coaches.
“It’s a bit of a balancing act, that whole management thing between peaking for your club versus peaking for your country physically. That’s a headache that both Matt [O'Connor] and Joe [Schmidt], and the other head coaches, are going to have.
For the player, that window we’ve just had in pre-season is a massive window in terms of games and, if you don’t get injured, it’s all about maintenance and maybe getting a window where you’re told you’re being rested.
“I think there’s a two-week window around Christmas some time, just after November, and then just after the Six Nations. That’s more of a coach’s headache than a player’s headache.
“A player just wants to always play, to be honest, and you’re always going to struggle to not let a guy play.”
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Jamie Heaslip was speaking at Bear restaurant for the launch of the new MaxiNutrition online shop in Ireland. The online store will allow Irish customers to buy MaxiNutrition products directly, with free delivery on all orders over €40.
