“Ireland in dreamland in Chicago!”
Jamie Heaslip’s career can be summed up in three special moments in the green jersey. Each one of them showed a different side to his game and proved so crucial to his team, and country.
Heaslip announced his retirement from rugby on Monday, February 26 and did so with a statement full of class.
The likes of Brian O’Driscoll, Stephen Ferris, Sean O’Brien and Rob Kearney all paid tribute to his career and Ireland coach Joe Schmidt commented:
“Utterly professional, driven to succeed and a leader with the actions he delivered.”
Schmidt highlighted a few of Heaslip’s key contributions to his teams and included his ‘Try of the Year’ score against Italy, in 2016, and a vital try he scored in the 2011 Heineken Cup final against Northampton.
As good as they were, they don’t make a top three that captures his career arc so well. All three were mentioned during The Hard Yards’ salute to Heaslip [below].
He was some player and he will be missed. Here are Heaslip’s highlights:
‘HEASLIP, JAMIE HEASLIP GOOD CHANGE OF DIRECTION….. “
2009 and France come to Croke Park, aiming to leave their hosts with more bitter memories. Ireland needed some magic that day and their No.8 delivered with a superb score that was so key in Ireland’s Grand Slam quest.
Twisted some French blood.
THE WHOLE HOGG
Ireland were coasting against the Scots – 40-10 ahead with five minutes to play – when fullback Stuart Hogg looked all set to score a try in the corner. It would not have affected the result but would have damaged Ireland’s points difference.
Heaslip wasn’t having that. With Tommy Bowe beaten, Hogg dived for the line but Heaslip came out of nowhere and wrapped two giants arms around him. Hard Yards host Andy McGeady commented:
“That’s the moment that springs into my head – that tackle on Hogg. An amazing moment as he kept it going right until the end. We didn’t know how important it would be at the time but that’s what I’ll remember.”
Ireland won by 30 and ended up winning the 2015 Six Nations championship on points difference.
‘HEASLIP SETS OFF WITH THE TRYLINE IN SIGHT…. OH, IT’S HENSHAW!!’
Heaslip developed a reputation as an unbreakable player; an ironman. He put in 80+ minute performances, match after match, week after week.
His assist for Robbie Henshaw’s clincher against the All Blacks, at Soldier Field, was typical of the man. He had wrung himself to the second last drop as Ireland out-gassed New Zealand and ran in 40 points.
With 75:27 on the clock, Heaslip had the presence of mind to pull off the back of Ireland’s scrum, draw in Ardie Savea and Aaron Cruden and slip a pass back to the on-rushing Henshaw for the score.
Arms raised aloft as Henshaw crashed over, it was a beautiful sight.
To me, that was Heaslip’s greatest moment. Doing everything he could for the greater good and letting a teammate take the glory.
Job done in Chicago.
Job done in cities and stadiums the world over.
