JAMIE HEASLIP HAS declared himself fully fit to take part in Leinster’s Champions Cup clash with Castres at the RDS on Saturday [KO 17.30] after recovering from a shoulder injury.
The eastern province’s captain suffered damage to the AC joint in his right shoulder during the Guinness Pro12 win over Ulster on 3 January, missing the victory over the Cardiff Blues last weekend.
Yeah, good to go,” said Heaslip in UCD this afternoon. “Ah, the Wolverine blood kicked in and I was grand. Mattie [O'Connor] just thought I needed a week off because he says I’m getting old, but I say I’m like Benjamin Button – only getting younger. I’m fine.”
Heaslip reported that he was involved in Leinster’s pitch sessions on Monday, Tuesday and today, “throwing myself about” without any ill effects.
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Being sidelined, even for such a short spell, is a rare experience for the 31-year-old, whose last in-game injury before the Ulster meeting came in December of 2010 against Clermont.
Heaslip suffered the injury against Ulster. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
Heaslip is famed for his durability, so sitting in the stands through injury was an odd experience.
“It was probably embarrassing more than strange, to be honest,” said Heaslip. “I didn’t know my way around the physio room or these things called medicals that happen after games, that was a bit strange.
“I got a bit of a kick when I went out to get my scans. They had to look back to 2010 to my last scan in the hospital. I think the doctor got a bit of a giggle out of that one, because all of my injuries are on one sheet, whereas most lads have a couple of sheets worth of stuff.
I like to keep it on one sheet, so we’ll see how it goes.
Despite Heaslip’s declaration of his fitness for the Castres encounter at the RDS, there is a school of thought that Leinster would be better off resting their captain this weekend, given the French side’s poor form and the expectation of a Leinster win.
Jack Conan’s excellent performances in recent times may provide another temptation in that regard, but Leinster head coach Matt O’Connor says he will be putting his best foot forward in terms of selection.
“Not in my school, there was never that thought [of resting Heaslip]. They’re a good side and at home in Europe you put out your best blokes to get maximum points out of the game and that’s the way we’ve approached it this week.”
Kirchner has been ruled out for a month. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
Meanwhile, Zane Kirchner will be missing for four weeks after sustaining a fracture in his shin. The South African has not been in peak form in recent weeks, however, while O’Connor believes Leinster can cope in that area of the pitch.
“Anyone of that calibre is a loss, but at this point we’ve probably got bodies to cope with the loss in that position. In the back three, we’ve got some guys that have done a really good job for us historically and this year.
“So it’s not a massive loss at this point, but it could become one very quickly.”
Heaslip attention to injury prevention and evaluate the weaknesses in his physical make-up and then take preventative measures really should be rolled out to the provinces. Consumate professional.
True but can you smash Sean O’Brien sized holes in defensive lines if you are worried about injury prevention? It’s a double edged sword but to truly put your body for the cause you have to put your body on the line. Heaslip is a fantastic player and a machine in terms of his injury record but doesn’t put himself about like O’Brien or Mahony for example. Then considering his injury record maybe a little caution goes a long way…
He doesn’t put himself about in running with the ball like Healy and O’Brien because he has a different role to those two. He carries wider and less of a first up runner. He most certainly puts himself about the pitch though, he regularly completes the highest amount of tackles and hits the most rucks.
Johnny, you can’t compare O’Mahoney to Heaslip. Heaslip has been the first choice pick by every coach he has ever had, including the lions. Heaslip is in a league of his own. But then again the best coaches in Europe are probably wrong to pick him every time.
I’m not saying Heaslip isn’t a great player, the point I was making is that the amazing injury record might be as much down to his style of play as his physical attributes, compared to the likes of O’Brien/ O’Mahony etc. in that they play a very attritional game where they are constantly putting their bodies on the line like SOB using his substantial mass as a human battering ram and POM blatant disregard for his own safety.
Heaslip is extremely adaptable. When they had a lot of big runners he spent more time in the ruck and when they had fewer he ran the ball more. For example POM and Henry are more suited to rucking than Ruddock and SOB. Heaslip’s role changes depending on who he plays with.
In regard to injury prevention I believe Christiaan Theron was referring to his day to day exercises, not playing style
Exactly Rudiger. The article on his myofascial preparation and training was a real eye opener. Heaslip injury prevention work should be required study for every academy.
If he isn’t 100% fit then don’t risk him, there is a pretty good replacement in Jack Conan chomping at the bit to make his mark in European competition.
The reason he never gets injured is because he doesn’t play with the same intentesty as other players and is afraid to make the big hits and always turns his back in contact and falls to the ground instead of breaking the gain line. Last time he played well was before lions tour because he taught his spot was gone. If cj stander was eligable thus year he would be at 8.
What nonsense. We were delighted that John Hayes never got injured and you’d be a brave man to tell the Bull he didnt play at right intensity. ROG might not have been a destructive tackler but he was targeted most games and took a load of contact. He never got injured either. Heaslip just been similarly lucky.
Aye Daithi. He’s never top tackler or top rucker in a game, too busy fannying around on the wing taking selfies for twitter. That’s why Cheika, Schmidt, Kidney and Gatland have all had him as first choice 8 throughout his career.
What Daithi’s saying is true. Heaslip used to be a more abrasive ball carrier and used to be bigger physically, i.e 2009 when he scored two tries in the Six Nations and carried a lot of ball. His transition into more of a lean, work rate type player coincided with Sean O’Brien’s emergence on a provincial and national level. Heaslip recognised that O’Brien was the better ball carrier, so he changed his game to create balance and to better the team. Top player, always very consistent. The complete pro.
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Any chance of a transfusion to Healy and O’Brien?
Heaslip attention to injury prevention and evaluate the weaknesses in his physical make-up and then take preventative measures really should be rolled out to the provinces. Consumate professional.
True but can you smash Sean O’Brien sized holes in defensive lines if you are worried about injury prevention? It’s a double edged sword but to truly put your body for the cause you have to put your body on the line. Heaslip is a fantastic player and a machine in terms of his injury record but doesn’t put himself about like O’Brien or Mahony for example. Then considering his injury record maybe a little caution goes a long way…
He doesn’t put himself about in running with the ball like Healy and O’Brien because he has a different role to those two. He carries wider and less of a first up runner. He most certainly puts himself about the pitch though, he regularly completes the highest amount of tackles and hits the most rucks.
Johnny, you can’t compare O’Mahoney to Heaslip. Heaslip has been the first choice pick by every coach he has ever had, including the lions. Heaslip is in a league of his own. But then again the best coaches in Europe are probably wrong to pick him every time.
I’m not saying Heaslip isn’t a great player, the point I was making is that the amazing injury record might be as much down to his style of play as his physical attributes, compared to the likes of O’Brien/ O’Mahony etc. in that they play a very attritional game where they are constantly putting their bodies on the line like SOB using his substantial mass as a human battering ram and POM blatant disregard for his own safety.
Heaslip is extremely adaptable. When they had a lot of big runners he spent more time in the ruck and when they had fewer he ran the ball more. For example POM and Henry are more suited to rucking than Ruddock and SOB. Heaslip’s role changes depending on who he plays with.
In regard to injury prevention I believe Christiaan Theron was referring to his day to day exercises, not playing style
Exactly Rudiger. The article on his myofascial preparation and training was a real eye opener. Heaslip injury prevention work should be required study for every academy.
Top player but comes across as an absolute tool
If he isn’t 100% fit then don’t risk him, there is a pretty good replacement in Jack Conan chomping at the bit to make his mark in European competition.
Aye but having Conan, Murphy, AND Heaslip on will give us loads of power!
wolverine blood eh? is that code for something else nudge nudge wink wink
Don’t think he does enough around the park, will struggle for a starting spot against Italy next month
Best and most suscessfull no 8 Ireland have ever had
Who do you think would start ahead of him, Phillip?
Shut your beaks you langer losebags!
He’s an animal and Yis know it.
Yis hate him because he’s a bit americanised and into hip hop and possibly a bit camp.
Would him being a really miserable and introvert Culchie ashamed of expressing himself make him easier for yis to like?
The reason he never gets injured is because he doesn’t play with the same intentesty as other players and is afraid to make the big hits and always turns his back in contact and falls to the ground instead of breaking the gain line. Last time he played well was before lions tour because he taught his spot was gone. If cj stander was eligable thus year he would be at 8.
What nonsense. We were delighted that John Hayes never got injured and you’d be a brave man to tell the Bull he didnt play at right intensity. ROG might not have been a destructive tackler but he was targeted most games and took a load of contact. He never got injured either. Heaslip just been similarly lucky.
Aye Daithi. He’s never top tackler or top rucker in a game, too busy fannying around on the wing taking selfies for twitter. That’s why Cheika, Schmidt, Kidney and Gatland have all had him as first choice 8 throughout his career.
Probably has nothing to do with moments like these: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Me_ITQlc7Sw
What Daithi’s saying is true. Heaslip used to be a more abrasive ball carrier and used to be bigger physically, i.e 2009 when he scored two tries in the Six Nations and carried a lot of ball. His transition into more of a lean, work rate type player coincided with Sean O’Brien’s emergence on a provincial and national level. Heaslip recognised that O’Brien was the better ball carrier, so he changed his game to create balance and to better the team. Top player, always very consistent. The complete pro.
Wolverine?? Is he blaming those claws for spilling the ball so much???
Lack of injuries more to do with him been a top class ruck inspector than wolverine blood me thinks.
No but being less of a tool would make him easier to like still our best 8 tho
His replacement looks a better player