Anybody But Heaslip

[Oldschool]

The ABH brigade must be getting desparate.
Expect a lot of ridiculouskc alternatives to the main man himself.
FFS guys get over your bias, jealosy and bitterness and get behind Ireland's captain.

[olaf the fat]

As they say down south, its a "Dublin Meedja" thing.

What did he do to get so much hassle?

[fourthirtythree]

Self-reinforcing feedback loop of groupthink.

He's a solid head down hard working pro consistently regarded by coaches he has worked with. His history of excellence speaks for itself. Those spewing the constant stream of spite and spittle he has to put up with should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves. The occasional enabler of this attitude in the media is a parasite harming its host and should be picked off.

[blockhead]

The ultimate rebuke to the ABHs is 5 Lions test starts. Compare that to many of the so called liginnddss.
Good call for Rory though. Captain material if ever there was.

[olaf the fat]

Yeah fair play to Rory

Regarding Heaslip, I remember before the RWC QF hearing (2fm Saturday sport programme or Today FMs version or some such - cant remember which) some pretty shocking comments about Jamie. Radio sports hacks and DJs holding forth on what it was to lead others and that other players would not respect Jamie- bizarre stuff. I remember thinking how unprofessional it was for a sports broadcaster to have such a discussion on air, as it was no more a personal attack.

All I have seen of Heaslip during press conferences and after match interviews has been good. As Captain, all good also. Whats the deal?

[simonokeeffe]

just imagine the poopstorm now if Stander doesnt make the matchday side

[rookie]

just imagine the poopstorm now if Stander doesnt make the matchday side

Yeah! Munster don't lose Stander to Irish camp. Awful! I'd say Stander would be disappointed though.

[simonokeeffe]

just imagine the poopstorm now if Stander doesnt make the matchday side

Yeah! Munster don't lose Stander to Irish camp. Awful! I'd say Stander would be disappointed though.

he came off bench (and scored a try) away to Ospreys which they won and wasnt in squad for away loss to Dragons but hes started every other game (14) playing the full 80 twelve times so Foley & co would be delighted to have him, Glasgow & Cardiff away look nasty without him, same with Ospreys in Cork on Valentines Day (5pm)

Henry's absence makes him a lot more likely to be involved come matchday though

[Oldschool]

Congrats to Rory Best.
He's earned it.

[Stuka]

Interesting that a squad made up of a majority of Leinster players didn't pick JH to be their captain though.

[Logorrhea]

Interesting that a squad made up of a majority of Leinster players didn't pick JH to be their captain though.

The selection of captain is done by vote now?

[domhnallj]

Interesting that a squad made up of a majority of Leinster players didn't pick JH to be their captain though.

The selection of captain is done by vote now?

According to the Indo. I'd wait until a reputable news source confirms (although I may have seen it also mentioned in the IT).

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/s ... 04500.html

[Ruckedtobits]

Anybody who believes the spin on that story needs a reality check!

[Logorrhea]

Fair enough, didn't see that before.

Not sure if I believe it though. Seems so unlike Joe.

[Not_Today]

I wonder does Joe have an issue with how Heaslip behaves off the field, when asked about Best being given the captaincy he talked about Best but seemed to put some weight on how he conducted himself off the pitch. I can't remember his exacts words but I thought it strange and then remembered a few journalists had recently written on Jamie's attitude to them in interviews.

[janeymac08]

Interesting that a squad made up of a majority of Leinster players didn't pick JH to be their captain though.

There were a couple of Leinster players in contention though (Sexton, O'Brien & Heaslip) so the Leinster vote would be split.

[Oldschool]

Interesting that a squad made up of a majority of Leinster players didn't pick JH to be their captain though.

There were a couple of Leinster players in contention though (Sexton, O'Brien & Heaslip) so the Leinster vote would be split.

Sexton and SOB were never ever in contention.

[Peg Leg]

Interesting that a squad made up of a majority of Leinster players didn't pick JH to be their captain though.

There were a couple of Leinster players in contention though (Sexton, O'Brien & Heaslip) so the Leinster vote would be split.

Sexton and SOB were never ever in contention.

But they were on the ballot paper

[Dave Cahill]

But they were on the ballot paper

It didn't actually happen. The Union rubbished the story yesterday

[FLIP]

Is Heaslip the words most underrated number 8? Repeatedly he gets left at the bottom of the lists of the best number 8s, behind the latest spoofer of the day (Andy Powell was the flavour 8 years ago, where is he now?) and yet he has won more than any of his contenders (bar Read) at both domestic, international, and Lions level. He doesn't seem all that bothered by what other people think of him, but is this perception that he isn't as good as he actually is behind the sort of nonsense that this topic is highlighting?