Heaslip wants a crack at Dallaglio

Jamie Heaslip Interview: Gavin Cummiskeymeets the number eight ahead of his 50th Leinster cap this weekend against Wasps and, he hopes, the mighty Lion of England

Jamie Heaslip received a full Leinster contract when Victor Costello hung up his spurs in 2005. He had taken the calculated risk of completing a degree in mechanical engineering at Trinity College before concentrating fully on professional rugby.

There were other number eights knocking around but just weeks into the Michael Cheika regime, the jersey was pasted to the former Newbridge College student's back. Cap number 50 comes against Wasps in Saturday's European Cup quarter-final.

Speaking of Costello and legendary number eights, Heaslip should be able to peer over the scrum at Adams Park and lock eyes with the most imposing presence in a generation.

Staring down Lawrence Dallaglio should be an intimidating prospect but the 23-year-old's reaction provides an insight into his character.

"I hope Lawrence is playing, that's for sure. Just purely because he is a number eight all number eights have looked up to at some stage. He's been at the top level, and played well. As a personal challenge I'd love to play against him."

The thing is Dallaglio is not guaranteed a starting berth when Wasps coach Shaun Edwards announces a team this afternoon.

After losing 43-13 at Croke Park, England coach Brian Ashton looked to the next generation of Wasps backrowers. Welsh veteran Martyn Williams may have taken Tom Rees and James Haskell to school at the Millennium Stadium but their potential remains undeniable. Also, Joe Worsley has recovered from concussion.

But back to Dallaglio.

"He leads by example, I suppose is the best way to describe him. For England and the Lions. And for Wasps, he's done it so many times. He has carried well. He has defended well. He's very good at getting other guys geared up and focusing their mind on the game. Will (Green, Leinster's English tighthead who won a European medal with Wasps in 2004) has informed us of that as well."

There is a rare memorable moment on the Lions 2005 DVD when Dallaglio gives a team talk before their first match against Bay Of Plenty. No notes. Just inspiring rhetoric. What happened after he dislocated his ankle has been documented to death.

"He's got a wealth of knowledge. There is no crap from him anyway, that's for sure. His presence on or off the field - he would kind of strike you. I'm definitely hoping to meet him on Saturday. On the pitch."

He repeated these sentiments regarding French captain Raphael Ibanez. "He tends to peel around rucks, where myself and Gleeso (Keith Gleeson) tend to be waiting."

Heaslip sounds fearless. No arrogance either, just a maturing player who has consistently performed to the highest standards over the past two years, even when some of his colleagues have gone missing. He was still doing an impression of a human battering ram deep into the second half of last year's European semi-final defeat to Munster.

International honours have been limited to a single cap by Denis Leamy although he got a taste of the Six Nations as the extra man in Scotland and Italy. Argentina this summer should provide another opportunity.

Saturday provides an ideal test for Heaslip, Stephen Keogh and Gleeson to ensure a flight to France for September's World Cup.

How has Munster native Keogh fitted in? "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."

What about the playing side? "He has set the tone from the start of the year of how he wants to play. He is 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."

A year on from the Toulouse victory, what has changed? "The additions have helped us (Keogh, Trevor Hogan and Stan Wright). We're a better all-round pack now. 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."