IN THE END the call was even closer than the American Presidential election [if you look at the popular vote and don't mention Ohio].
Jamie Heaslip and Jonny Sexton took their turns talking to the media out the back of Carton House this afternoon and stressed that team commitment, over personal glory, remains the goal for wounded Ireland.
Declan Kidney named Heaslip as his captain for Saturday’s game against South Africa with a longer-term appointment looking likely if Ireland can topple the ‘Boks and Argentina.
While the Number 8 was off getting publicity shots on a sun lounger, Sexton fielded questions about whether he had been involved in the captaincy discussion.
Sexton told TheScore.ie, “It is never something I would come out, publicly, and say – that I’d like to be captain. It is more of a thing where Declan will come to you and offer it to you if he thinks you’re the right man and then it is up to you whether you accept or not.
I spoke to Declan, briefly, about it last week. He came to me and we had a chat about it. For him to come and talk to me about it was an honour.
“I can imagine how Jamie is feeling. It’s a very proud moment for him and he deserves it. He’s an outstanding professional. He has captained Leinster really well and deserves his chance.
I think Paulie [O'Connell] would have been captain if he was fit. It’s a pity he’s not playing. I’m sure Jamie will do a good job.
“Maybe one day. I’ve got a lot to learn as a leader, I suppose, and how to control a team so maybe it was the right decision at the time.”
Every little helps
As for the new Ireland captain, he spoke of his honour at getting the job and how he mulled over celebrating out loud when he got the news – shopping for a an engagement card in Tesco.
Heaslip told TheScore.ie, “You ask anybody who plays rugby and they want to lead their team out onto the pitch. To lead your country out is pretty awesome. It’s Roy of the Rovers type stuff.
I’m getting flashbacks to when I was eight; throwing the ball around the house, thinking I was Simon Geoghegan. It’s a dream for a lot of players.
“With the group of players we have, we’ve got leaders in there,” he added.
Kidney was also on the scene, going through his decisions and observing his players as they talked up the challenge of South Africa and extolled on the best two weeks of training they have ever been involved in.
The coach’s most prescient comment of the afternoon came at the team announcement when he was asked about his choice of Heaslip.
“Jamie is – even though he’d deny it – he’s a consummate professional from the minute he shows up for work,” said Kidney.
Heaslip will need his 22 teammates to stand up and stand behind him as they face into one hell of a challenge on Saturday.
don’t know if he has right personality for job bad choice
What’s Simon Zebo doing on the team????
Providing the only real bit of pace our country can offer.
pg obviously a Leinster man who thinks it should be 15 Leinster lads on the team zebo will be tested against sa in a match that doesn’t mean much other than trialling guys Its perfect match for zebo
Zebo isn’t a full back, doesn’t play at full back for his club and is picked at full back against the Boks
Brilliant Deccie, brilliant
had b Jamie great choice has potential to b world class player..and captain
Forget that, loving the new jersey
Potential ?
Heaslip as a triple heineken cup winner, a B&I lion and with 50 international caps already and he’s only coming into his prime is already a World Class player
Don’t mind the try hard hipster image, He does the biz on the pitch that’s all that matters.
So Sexton has to answer questions while Heaslip is off doing a photo shoot…..
Would you not proudly take charge of your first press conference as Captain?
I fear his new captain duties might interfere with his usual hobbies of hair combing and photo shoots.
Heaslip is the only candidate for captain. He is a leader, has put the team ahead of his own game, and even when he plays badly, he is still the go to guy. These were all the qualities that led Axel Foley to be a Munster legend and first name on the Irish Team sheet for many years.
He changed his natural running game to accommodate others and do more of the donkey work.
The guy has plenty of experience, Remember Drico was even younger when he first captained Ireland and had never captained Leinster when steady Eddie appointed him & worked out well!
Lets get behind Heaslip & his team!
Well said
The team and captain need us behind them
Christ for once can we not just get behind the team and support the lads that have been picked :)
Earls gets to pick his own jersey, Zebo in a position he’s never played and Murrary who’s form is not in the top 2 in the country really?
I think puma picked the black jersey for the death of the Irish rugby team.
The backline should be Redan sexton , darcy and McFadden in the centre with earls and Zebo on the wings and jones at fullback.
Should be Murray, Sexton, Earls, Bowe (13) Trimble, Zebo & Jones