Ahead of his 50th cap for Leinster, Ireland number eight Jamie Heaslip discusses how he will feel facing up to one of his rugby heroes – Wasps captain Lawrence Dallaglio – at Adams Park on Saturday.
ON PLAYING AGAINST LAWRENCE DALLAGLIO:
“This is a huge personal challenge for me. I hope Lawrence is playing, that’s for sure, purely because all number eights have looked up him at some stage.
“He is a man who leads by example for the Lions, England and Wasps, he has done it all the time. He is capable of getting other guys up for games as well.
“He has a wealth of knowledge, knows what he wants from everyone and there’s no crap about him.”
ON THE CRITICISM OF THE LEINSTER PACK:
“We’re in the quarter final of the Heineken Cup and in a position to win the Magners League. That must suggest we’re doing something right.
“It’s a much stronger unit now than it was last year.
“The additions have helped us – Stephen Keogh, Trevor Hogan and Stan Wright – We’re a better all-round pack now than twelve months ago. Our set-pieces have gotten better. Players are carrying the ball with ease in the pack.
“Overall we are playing better as a group. We all know what each others’ roles are and how we play.”
ON STEPHEN KEOGH:
“Stephen Keogh have made a difference since he’s come into the side, just by the way he plays the game. He can come in very well right from the start, set the standards from the beginning of the year and set the tone. He’s a very hard, physical runner.
“When he carries the ball you know all about it. Especially if you are tackling him. I’ve been playing well off him.
“He’s gotten into the Dublin scene, if there is a Dublin scene. Drinking his macchiatos, is it? Or caramel macchiatos? He’s gotten on fine. No bother.”
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