Jamie Heaslip - Underwhelming so far?

He is only playing ok...quite a bit behind SOB and 1F in terms of performances....needs to step it up a bit by the look of things and lucky Wallace isnt out there.

I think most people would agree with you,he is our best option at the moment. I don't want to see Leamy there! Ferris could be an option with SOB at 6 and Jennings at 7 if we want to go there.

I wouldnt want Leamy there. I dont think Jennings is up to it either.

I think he's been well below his best so far and very subdued. Didn't he get concussed on Saturday?

He's such a catalyst for us in attack that we really need him to be at his brilliant best. Ferris and O'Brien have thrown the gauntlet down and he needs to step up to the plate.

While he hasn't been up to his normal high standards, he does have to play a more understated role with Ferris and O'Brien on the flanks who are big moment players.

A valid point but I wouldnt even say he is close to his normal standards and in fact is being shielded from criticism because of their performances...

Yeah he needs to improve and if Wallace was fit I think there might be calls for O'Brien to play at 8.
As things stand he's hopefully getting there.He was poor against the U.S. and only okay against Oz but there were signs his form will pick up.
The carry from the back of the scrum in our 22 before it was spun wide for Bowe was his first major moment of the tournament.lets hope there's more to come.

yeah if wally he was there he would definitely be in a battle for a starting spot. would personally take a subdued heaslip over leamy every day of the week. he did some good lineout work and was reasonable at the breakdown but far from the attacking force of 2 years ago. Jennings is a good option to have knocking around but we lose at lineout minus Heaslip

Its the scrum cap i reckon. Looks daft

If you were to put Ferris at 8 you wouldn't really lose that lineout option - he can do a good job there too! O'Brien is still lifted at times also. I really think Heaslip needs to up his game but he hasn't much competition for 8. I would love Ferris to start a game at 8 to at least give Heaslip a good kick up the backside.

When Wally returns from injury (PLEASE return from injury!) I could see this as our potential backrow for the 6 nations:

6. O'Brien
7. Wallace
8. Ferris

19. Heaslip

He's below par. I reckon the concussion has something to do with it. He rarely gets injured. But he was injured during the season for Leinster and it took him a little while to get back to his best. But he did after a few games. He's never had any D'arcy-esque prolonged bouts of poor form, so I'd stick with him. When he's on form he's one of the best 8's in the game.

Feckless Rogue wrote:He's below par. I reckon the concussion has something to do with it. He rarely gets injured. But he was injured during the season for Leinster and it took him a little while to get back to his best. But he did after a few games. He's never had any D'arcy-esque prolonged bouts of poor form, so I'd stick with him. When he's on form he's one of the best 8's in the game.

When did he get this concussion? I didn't know about this. Is that why he is wearing the scrum cap?

He suffered a concussion against England in the final warm up game and had to come off the field. I think he'll get better as the tournament progresses.

would prefer ferris absolutely clattering lads wearing the number 6 jersey thanks. absolute wrecking ball of a blind side.

if anything sob could go to 8 for the odd attacking scrum. Wish Italy still had ramiro pez at 10. sob could score 4 tries if so in italy game.

Ferris is not a number 8. SOB though is a very good 8 (understatement).

However we really need Heaslip to find his best form as at his best he's arguably Irelands best player. So many of our attacks come from his marauding runs out wide and linking up with SOB, Bowe, Ferris etc.

He is not a number 8 because he hasn't been tried out there yet. I would like to see it tried out. Especially considering the fact people wanted him moved to second row not long ago which would be the worst place to move him! I'm having a similar debate in the club forum if you want to join in there too btw haha

But yeah I agree that Heaslip when on form is devastating. He scored so many tries for Leinster and Ireland and was always a threat with ball in hand. I always placed my bets on Heaslip to score one of Ireland's tries in the big matches Just really want to see that player back on the pitch.

Rory, Ferris has played across the backrow positions when he was younger at Ulster.

He's settled at 6 which is easily his best position and he doesn't have the all round skills to play 8 in my opinion.

I disagree about not having the all around skills as I think he is a more rounded player than O'Brien even, but all I'm saying is if he was tried at 8 it gives Ireland more options. I don't see what there is to lose really having an extra option at 8, or if it doesn't work then that's fine too

Rory sorry we'll have to agree to disagree on this one! I'm a massive fan of 1F but for me 8 is not his position.

No problem bro

I still want Heaslip to come back to his best form and O'Brien and Ferris to do what they did against Australia. It was incredible to watch and it looked to be our best combination.

If Heaslip is out, then I'd go with O'Brien at 8 ahead of Ferris.

The SOB's a proven 8.

So potentially a

Ferris
Wallace
SOB

would make for an on-form, highly technical and extremely mobile backrow. Argueably one of if not the best backrow. However it could only work for Ireland as our Centre's together fill in the role of a Pocock, McCaw etc.

Heaslip could still come good however, early days. Lets not lose sight of the fact it was only 5 months ago that he was given a nomination for ERC player of the year. When he's on form he can break the gainline and offload to get us on the front foot like his backrow colleagues - and unlike them, can do quite a shift in the tight, rucks etc. One of the highest turnover machines in last years HC wasnt he? He adds a dynacism I cant put my finger on, but all I can tell is only he and Harinordoquy seem to posess it.

Heaslip is doing a lot of the donkey work. In the current back row he is possibly the best at the breakdown. He would need to drop his level significantly for Leamy to get a sniff.

Just from an English point of view, he has looked a little below par - but i'd take that over our options!

I've wanted to see a Ferris, SOB, Heaslip backrow for ages (not against us of course) and i'm glad it's getting some time to gel.

I know a lot of people think that combo lacks a groundhog fetcher type, which is fair, but i feel like all 3 do enough all round the park for it work. A year or so ago it seemed everyone was picking backrows without specialists, just a lot of big athletic players, then Pockock and Brussow (sp) seemed to arrest that trend.

I'm intrigued to see that trio against a team with a genuine 7 and how they deal with it. I think they can and will, could be against Wales i guess. Really disappointing for Wallace not to be involved but you've got some damn fine players in that back-row.

Oh and a poor Heaslip is light-years ahead of Leamy IMHO

Hood83 wrote:Oh and a poor Heaslip is light-years ahead of Leamy IMHO

Agreed. Although I prefer Leamy playing 6 anyway.

Hood83 wrote:Oh and a poor Heaslip is light-years ahead of Leamy IMHO

We noticed that one already but thanks!

roddersm wrote:

Hood83 wrote:Oh and a poor Heaslip is light-years ahead of Leamy IMHO

We noticed that one already but thanks!

Heaslip with one arm, one leg, blind and unconscious is better than Leamy.

[quote="Boyne"][quote="roddersm"][quote="Hood83"]Oh and a poor Heaslip is light-years ahead of Leamy IMHO[/quote]

We noticed that one already but thanks![/quote]

Heaslip with one arm, one leg, blind and unconscious is better than Leamy.[/quote]



Heaslip wont be dropped anyway (rightly so). Leamy could play against Russia but Heaslip should play 8 to help him get back to form.