JAMIE HEASLIP INSISTS he has not read the sports pages of newspapers or websites since his breakthrough with the Irish team in 2006. If someone who knows him is reading this, pass on our congratulations.
It has been a long eight months since Heaslip was shopping in Tesco for a engagement card and he got a call from then-Ireland coach Declan Kidney to tell him he would be leading his country against South Africa. Temporary became permanent in January as Heaslip’s yellow card against the Springboks was washed away by a free-flowing win over Argentina.
Victory over Six Nations champs Wales followed but the good news train was derailed by Owen Farrell and England a week later and by the end of his first campaign as Ireland captain he was already getting the ’100% backing’ of his coach. He returned the favour but Kidney did not last much longer.
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Wales’ Toby Faletau, on the back of another Six Nations win, was the favourite to start for the Lions against Australia. Heaslip faced competition to make the squad from Johnnie Beattie, Tom Wood and versatile Irish teammates Sean O’Brien and Peter O’Mahony. He needed to up his game and he did.
The 29-year-old scored four tries in Leinster’s six final games, including a score in the Pro12 Final and a double against Biarritz three days before Warren Gatland named his squad. He was nominated for ERC Player of the Year – losing out to Jonny Wilkinson – and carried his form onto the Lions Tour. Captain Sam Warburton will look to take most of the dirty work against Australia, freeing Heaslip to do damage in the loose.
It would have been just as simple to write a glowing piece on Sean O’Brien and how he deserved his start in the back row against the Wallabies. Unfortunately for the Carlow native, he will join fellow back-rowers Justin Tipuric and Toby Faletau in the Suncorp Stadium stands on Saturday. That trio could well have started against Australia and done a job.
The other Irish Lion that must have been expectant rather than hopeful of selection is Conor Murray but his cameo against the Brumbies was ordinary. Still, he made a fantastic start to the tour and looked, for all money, to be Mike Philips able deputy when he tore the BaaBaa’s apart in Hong Kong.
Simon Zebo is unfortunate to lose out to Sean Maitland as backline cover as one looked lively and created a buzz when he faced the Waratahs while the other was exposed in defence. Maitland’s Kiwi upbringing means he is a useful, and confident, jack of all trades.
The Kiwi-Scot keeps Rob Kearney off the bench too but the fullback will surely be in the mix for the second and third Tests. Rory Best may have to settle for righting his lineout wrongs against Melbourne Rebels in the final midweek match.
As for the other three Irish starters, Brian O’Driscoll, Paul O’Connell and Jonny Sexton have all endured rollercoaster, injury-hit seasons but their undoubted class has shone through and the Lions coaching staff have full faith in their abilities, and winning mentalities.
Its political but I’d say the Welsh press are having kittens about Faletau not been in the 23. T.Bowe and Zebo will feature in the second test they just need time. An angry SOB will hopefully force his way in the Aussies will be very happy he is not included, he destroyed them in the world cup.
I was full sure that O’Brien would be picked for the bench. Can play across the back row and would be a massive impact sub. Also, Conor Murray has had a great tour, gutted for him. Zebo I didn’t think would make the match 22, but it’s incredible to think underwhelming Maitland got in ahead of him…
I agree with you on O’Brien, there’s no cover at 7 now which is a massive risk. I think Murray’s downfall is the fact that he is so similar to Philips. Normally a change at scrumhalf is in order to change tactics, thts why i reckon Youngs got the nod.
The team is fair enough, that bench is shocking! Maitland has been the worst player on tour and no Hogg or Kearney!! The lions could lose this game in the last 20 off the back of the bench selection!
Lydiate gets the nod, that position was a coin toss!
I agree so much for choosing on form maitland has been shocking while zebo and hogg have played well. Kearney needs more time to prove himself after injury. Lydiate inthe back row says alot about gatlands favouritism tipuric should be on the bench instead. Youngs ahead of murray after the brumbies match really??????????? Funny though how they(score) said at the time murray played well off the bench and now he’s ordinary. The wallabies superior bench shall surely fell the lions with players like scott sio(his explosiveness could do some damage),kurtley beale,nick Phipps, and dave dennis will probably be there thats just naming a few
O’Brien as impact sub?? Imagine the damage the tullow tank could do with 15 minutes to go? Although lydiate is an excellent player, he’s more of a player suited to an 80 minute grind. if I was an aussie player, i know who id least like to see coming on the field..also can cover 6,7 and 8…he must be gutted.
Maitland is a Scottish/Kiwi ….Zebo didn’t have a chance and frankly hasn’t done a great deal since joining ….In my view Kearney and Murray have both been done by Gatland .. That management team are biased for their own…The Aussies will really fancy their chances and so do I…
Kearney had been injured and unless gatty tore Kearneys hamstring it’s no one’s fault.
Zebo had been very impressive on tour so fast getting involved and doing nothing wrong but plenty right. He completely outshone Maitland in the game they played together. Maitland has been rubbish on this tour and it’s a joke that he’s selected.
Feel for hogg who hasn’t had a decent run at his position which is fullback. He should really be the man on the bench. But he wasn’t given a chance.
Not happy with Hogg not even making the bench, he has had a productive tour so far, has played well even when asked to play out of position, has done it all with a smile on his face, and he’s only 20!
I think Murray is paying for that late break in the brumbies game where if he had taken his time the lions would probably have won a kickable penalty. Apart from that he has been far better than youngs.
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Can’t understand Maitland getting the bench over Zebo who can cover FB and both wings… Other than that a nice team….
Its political but I’d say the Welsh press are having kittens about Faletau not been in the 23. T.Bowe and Zebo will feature in the second test they just need time. An angry SOB will hopefully force his way in the Aussies will be very happy he is not included, he destroyed them in the world cup.
I was full sure that O’Brien would be picked for the bench. Can play across the back row and would be a massive impact sub. Also, Conor Murray has had a great tour, gutted for him. Zebo I didn’t think would make the match 22, but it’s incredible to think underwhelming Maitland got in ahead of him…
I agree with you on O’Brien, there’s no cover at 7 now which is a massive risk. I think Murray’s downfall is the fact that he is so similar to Philips. Normally a change at scrumhalf is in order to change tactics, thts why i reckon Youngs got the nod.
The team is fair enough, that bench is shocking! Maitland has been the worst player on tour and no Hogg or Kearney!! The lions could lose this game in the last 20 off the back of the bench selection!
Lydiate gets the nod, that position was a coin toss!
Agree. No issues with the 15 but the bench is screwy. That bench is set up to close out a game, not win one from behind…
I agree so much for choosing on form maitland has been shocking while zebo and hogg have played well. Kearney needs more time to prove himself after injury. Lydiate inthe back row says alot about gatlands favouritism tipuric should be on the bench instead. Youngs ahead of murray after the brumbies match really??????????? Funny though how they(score) said at the time murray played well off the bench and now he’s ordinary. The wallabies superior bench shall surely fell the lions with players like scott sio(his explosiveness could do some damage),kurtley beale,nick Phipps, and dave dennis will probably be there thats just naming a few
Kepu and gill sorry
O’Brien as impact sub?? Imagine the damage the tullow tank could do with 15 minutes to go? Although lydiate is an excellent player, he’s more of a player suited to an 80 minute grind. if I was an aussie player, i know who id least like to see coming on the field..also can cover 6,7 and 8…he must be gutted.
They need the tullow tank!!!
Maitland is a Scottish/Kiwi ….Zebo didn’t have a chance and frankly hasn’t done a great deal since joining ….In my view Kearney and Murray have both been done by Gatland .. That management team are biased for their own…The Aussies will really fancy their chances and so do I…
Kearney had been injured and unless gatty tore Kearneys hamstring it’s no one’s fault.
Zebo had been very impressive on tour so fast getting involved and doing nothing wrong but plenty right. He completely outshone Maitland in the game they played together. Maitland has been rubbish on this tour and it’s a joke that he’s selected.
Feel for hogg who hasn’t had a decent run at his position which is fullback. He should really be the man on the bench. But he wasn’t given a chance.
Not happy with Hogg not even making the bench, he has had a productive tour so far, has played well even when asked to play out of position, has done it all with a smile on his face, and he’s only 20!
I think Murray is paying for that late break in the brumbies game where if he had taken his time the lions would probably have won a kickable penalty. Apart from that he has been far better than youngs.