Jamie Heaslip Appreciation Thread

.ak

Due 100 caps this evening, he joins the list of Irish centurions.

Ireland greatest ever 8?












... This should be fun. :pac:

If you weren't a mod I'd be tempted to report you for trolling

.ak

connemara man wrote: »

If you weren't a mod I'd be tempted to report you for trolling

Haterz gonna hate

Diabhal Beag

Pressing the pause button on my headphones in respect

Former Former

Greatest 8 of the pro era anyway. A phenomenonal combination of pure talent and endless workrate.

CMOTDibbler

.ak wrote: »

Due 100 caps this evening, he joins the list of Irish centurions.

Ireland greatest ever 8?

I would think so. Has any other Irish eight lasted as long at the top?

.ak

Too late Venjur. C'mon hop in, the water's juuuust right.

.ak

.ak wrote: »

Too late Venjur. C'mon hop in, the water's juuuust right.

.ak

CMOTDibbler wrote: »

I would think so. Has any other Irish eight lasted as long at the top?

There's a good chance they'll have to retire rugby before he retires.

CMOTDibbler

MattD

Hero amongst men

.ak

Some serious stuff now:


Name: James Peter Richard Heaslip

• DOB:15/12/1983
• Place of Birth:Tiberias, Israel
• Height:1.93 m
• Weight:109.09 kg
• Position:No. 8
• Club:Dublin University FC

Stats: Ireland

• Caps: 94
• Points: 70
• Tries: 14
• Minutes Played: 7,149

Stats: B&I Lions

• Caps: 5
• Minutes Played: 382

Stats: Leinster

• Caps: 186
• Points: 135
• Tries: 27
• Minutes Played: 14,184

Sanjuro

Met him a few times. Absolute gent. Really like him as a player, and especially love how he divides opinion. The facts of his quality and work rate trump opinion every time.

DrDario

The lad is a born winner. He never 'phones it in.

Teferi

Not only Ireland's greatest ever 8, he is one of Ireland's greatest ever players. Never complacent, always wants to be better. Honest, hard working but also that ethereal X-factor that we often mention. Defence, footwork, offloads, placement, where he appears on the pitch, incredibly durable, clearouts, mauling - he brings so much that he instantly makes any team better. He's a players player in how professionally he goes about preparation for every game and how much he gives - he always does the extras that others don't to gain the small margins. Always puts his hand up and can rally the troops - if players go off he can help take over their role.

Teferi

.ak wrote: »

Some serious stuff now:


Name: James Peter Richard Heaslip

• DOB:15/12/1983
• Place of Birth:Tiberias, Israel
• Height:1.93 m
• Weight:109.09 kg
• Position:No. 8
• Club:Dublin University FC

Stats: Ireland

• Caps: 94
• Points: 70
• Tries: 14
• Minutes Played: 7,149

Stats: B&I Lions

• Caps: 5
• Minutes Played: 382

Stats: Leinster

• Caps: 186
• Points: 135
• Tries: 27
• Minutes Played: 14,184

Stats: Ligind Status

• 100% Bull Hayes

CMOTDibbler

Teferi wrote: »

Stats: Ligind Status

• 100% Bull Hayes

mohawk

Teferi wrote: »

Stats: Ligind Status

• 100% Bull Hayes

Jesus this thread is going to real real awkward if Thomond doesn't agree!!!

thomond2006

mohawk wrote: »

Jesus this thread is going to real real awkward if Thomond doesn't agree!!!

Well...

thebaz

Phemonal player - phenomal achievement - 100 caps - I just can' understand how he never gets injured - I must get one of those oxygen tents he sleeps in - Probably the best Irish 8 I have seen , without being flash (bar the old Beats

CMOTDibbler

thebaz wrote: »

Phemonal player - phenomal achievement - 100 caps - I just can' understand how he never gets injured - I must get one of those oxygen tents he sleeps in - Probably the best Irish 8 I have seen , without being flash (bar the old Beats

I'm given to understand it's the yoga or pilates that he does. He spends thirty minutes before every match doing exercises. Gordon D'Arcy took it up later in his career as well and he reckoned it extended his career.

.ak

thebaz wrote: »

Phemonal player - phenomal achievement - 100 caps - I just can' understand how he never gets injured - I must get one of those oxygen tents he sleeps in - Probably the best Irish 8 I have seen , without being flash (bar the old Beats

thebaz

thebaz wrote: »

- I must get one of those oxygen tents he sleeps in -

I wake up in a tent every morning and I get injured all the time.

thebaz

CMOTDibbler wrote: »

I'm given to understand it's the yoga or pilates that he does. He spends thirty minutes before every match doing exercises. Gordon D'Arcy took it up later in his career as well and he reckoned it extended his career.

wouldn't you know it - an Appreciation thread - and he gives one of his worst displays in Green - he is human -

knew D'Arcy and BOD did yoga , it is great for keeping the body flexible - Giggy and Roy Keane too - and I swear by it myself.

nice_guy80

thebaz wrote: »

wouldn't you know it - an Appreciation thread - and he gives one of his worst displays in Green - he is human -

knew D'Arcy and BOD did yoga , it is great for keeping the body flexible - Giggy and Roy Keane too - and I swear by it myself.

Roy Keane said yoga gave him injuries

Giggs only needed to do it as he was knackered from shaggin the brother's missus!

razorblunt

Picked up and dumped on his arse by a Welsh winger that wasn't Cuthbert or North.
That's not going on the showreel.

.ak

razorblunt wrote: »

Picked up and dumped on his arse by a Welsh winger that wasn't Cuthbert or North.
That's not going on the showreel.

Hey! Hey!

You're in the wrong thread. This is the APPRECIATION thread.

You need to post that in the SLATING thread...





... although there isn't one, nor will there ever be...

AbusesToilets

I like Heaslip, but I don't think he offers enough from 8 anymore. Would it be ridiculous to suggest he move down a number or two?

irishbucsfan

AbusesToilets wrote: »

I like Heaslip, but I don't think he offers enough from 8 anymore. Would it be ridiculous to suggest he move down a number or two?

What would that do?

Is it purely off attacking scrums you think we need more ball carrying? Because I'm not sure we have anyone else who would do much more?

.ak

Like there's no law to stop Stander moving to 8 on a scrum and getting Jamie to pack down at 6...

But there is logic stopping you...

Clegg

Thought Heaslip had a good first half, dropped ball aside. Second half wasn't as good but he was one of the better forwards today. Best, McGrath, Toner and SoB all underperformed. McGrath's form has dipped very suddenly and that's worrying.

thebaz

AbusesToilets wrote: »

I like Heaslip, but I don't think he offers enough from 8 anymore. Would it be ridiculous to suggest he move down a number or two?

he's an out and out 8 - he was poor tonight , but superb last time out - if he has a fault its he lacks consistency in game quality . He can be brilliant one week then average next - I often think this is due to him never taking time off (like most players) - he plays continuously , got to take its toll - lI back him to be at his best again next week

.ak

Lads... if the next post isn't about a frappachino filled comedy adventure with the lads from 3fe I don't want to hear it.

Keep the discussion about the Wales vs Ireland game in that thread!

AbusesToilets

irishbucsfan wrote: »

What would that do?

Is it purely off attacking scrums you think we need more ball carrying? Because I'm not sure we have anyone else who would do much more?

It's not just off of the scrum, he is a fairly weak carrier, either by nature or design. He lacks any explosiveness or ability to beat defenders. I'd like to see us try out some other options, like Stander or Conan.

I keep thinking he should be playing more like Read, a rangy runner who is excellent at linking up out wide, but he rarely accomplishes that either. He usually seems to take the ball and shuffle in field, then take the tackle and reset. That can have it's value but doesn't compare when stacked up to the contribution of his peers internationally tbh.

irishbucsfan

AbusesToilets wrote: »

It's not just off of the scrum, he is a fairly weak carrier, either by nature or design. He lacks any explosiveness or ability to beat defenders. I'd like to see us try out some other options, like Stander or Conan.

So if its not just off the scrum... what would changing the number on his back change?

AbusesToilets

irishbucsfan wrote: »

So if its not just off the scrum... what would changing the number on his back change?

Allow him to stay on the field, while we put another player at 8? Just a thought, not some in-depth plan.

irishbucsfan

AbusesToilets wrote: »

Allow him to stay on the field, while we put another player at 8? Just a thought, not some in-depth plan.

But you can put whoever you want into the back row, and they can carry as much as you want them to. Your number 8 doesn't ever really HAVE to be your ball carrier apart from attacking scrums. You strike that balance right across the back row. If anything it should be our 6 and 7 bringing a lot of carrying to bear, but it appears SOB is a bit off-colour these days.

AbusesToilets

irishbucsfan wrote: »

But you can put whoever you want into the back row, and they can carry as much as you want them to. Your number 8 doesn't ever really HAVE to be your ball carrier apart from attacking scrums. You strike that balance right across the back row. If anything it should be our 6 and 7 bringing a lot of carrying to bear, but it appears SOB is a bit off-colour these days.

Wouldn't argue that but I do think it's time to look beyond Heaslip. If we want to be more effective in attack, there are better options. We would obviously lose his experience and defensive ability, but that day is going to come at some point.

CMOTDibbler

AbusesToilets wrote: »

It's not just off of the scrum, he is a fairly weak carrier, either by nature or design. He lacks any explosiveness or ability to beat defenders. I'd like to see us try out some other options, like Stander or Conan.

I keep thinking he should be playing more like Read, a rangy runner who is excellent at linking up out wide, but he rarely accomplishes that either. He usually seems to take the ball and shuffle in field, then take the tackle and reset. That can have it's value but doesn't compare when stacked up to the contribution of his peers internationally tbh.

I don't know what his stats are for today's game, but against France he made a clean break, two defenders beaten and an offload. In the same game Stander had zero. They roughly made the same metres per carry.

Is there a bit of confirmation bias here?

AbusesToilets

CMOTDibbler wrote: »

I don't know what his stats are for today's game, but against France he made a clean break, two defenders beaten and an offload. In the same game Stander had zero. They roughly made the same metres per carry.

Is there a bit of confirmation bias here?

Does one swallow a summer make? Could you honestly say that he is a regular contributor in attack? His usual MO is static ball, maybe make a meter or two and take the tackle.

He doesn't hold a candle to his peers in that regard. He is an excellent defensive player and an experienced leader, but I doubt any opposition worries about facing him with ball in hand.

razorblunt

.ak wrote: »

Hey! Hey!

You're in the wrong thread. This is the APPRECIATION thread.

You need to post that in the SLATING thread...





... although there isn't one, nor will there ever be...

I'll wait for the Liam Williams' Apprecation Thread.

irishbucsfan

AbusesToilets wrote: »

Does one swallow a summer make? Could you honestly say that he is a regular contributor in attack? His usual MO is static ball, maybe make a meter or two and take the tackle.

He doesn't hold a candle to his peers in that regard. He is an excellent defensive player and an experienced leader, but I doubt any opposition worries about facing him with ball in hand.

He's certainly capable of it. It's what he made his name doing originally. But then he became a more rounded player and focused on tight play, and he's one of the very best at that and not someone we could replace.

sydthebeat

He should be nicknamed the cleaner for the amount of **** ball he cleans up during games. Ah least 3 times yesterday he had to steady the ship from crap ball, and he never panics.

CMOTDibbler

sydthebeat wrote: »

He should be nicknamed the cleaner for the amount of **** ball he cleans up during games. Ah least 3 times yesterday he had to steady the ship from crap ball, and he never panics.

AbusesToilets

irishbucsfan wrote: »

He's certainly capable of it. It's what he made his name doing originally. But then he became a more rounded player and focused on tight play, and he's one of the very best at that and not someone we could replace.

I don't dispute his fine points, but we do lose a fair bit in attack with him there. I see him as a Read type player, who's unfortunate to be playing in a team that doesn't look to use that skill set.

While we couldn't bring someone in to replicate him immediately, there are options available that offer potential for a more potent set up.

phog

Have I missed out in his retirement or something?

Great player, bad day at the office yesterday but an appreciation thread?

Teferi

phog wrote: »

Have I missed out in his retirement or something?

Great player, bad day at the office yesterday but an appreciation thread?

Crazy suggestion here but you could try reading the first post for context. It's like three lines long.