Record-breaker Hickie focused on team performance
Record-breaker Denis Hickie believes Ireland are about to face the acid test of their progress over the last four years.
The 27-year-old Leinster player will join Keith Crossan as his country’s most capped winger when he makes his 41st international appearance in the World Cup opener with Romania at Gosford on Saturday.
Hickie claimed he was unaware of the milestone until he was informed by Irish officials just before the official team announcement at their Terrigal training camp, a 90-minute drive north from Sydney.
But in any case, the 6ft 2in flyer is more interested in getting Ireland’s campaign off to a winning start and ensuring there are no slip-ups ahead of the Pool A deciders with Argentina and hosts Australia later this month.
Hickie was omitted from the squad which failed to make the last eight in the last World Cup four years ago but has battled back to form and won his place back in a side which has seen their ranking rise to number three in the world after a series of impressive recent performances.
Ireland’s current lofty status sees them rated above both their major group rivals.
However, the statistics can be misleading as they have beaten Australia only once in their last 13 meetings while prior to their 16-7 win over Argentina in Dublin last November, they had lost two on the trot, including the 28-24 play-off reverse in Lens which dumped them out of the previous World Cup.
It is those poor records which need to be amended if Ireland are to live up to their billing, which is why Hickie is fully focused on the team needs rather than his own personal achievements.
“This is the acid test for us,” he admitted.
“We have a lot of guys who were not involved at the last World Cup, so this will be the measure of how far we have come since then. We are in a tough group and it will be hard for us to get through it, which is why everyone is fully focused on what happens against Romania.
“The record is nice, especially as Keith Crossan was one of the first players I watched when I started getting interested in rugby. But the number of caps I have won is secondary compared to winning the opening match.”
There are few surprises in Eddie O’Sullivan’s starting XV with David Humphreys getting the nod at fly-half in preference to Ronan O’Gara and winger Shane Horgan returning for the first time since February after recent thigh problems.
Despite Horgan’s lack of recent international outings, O’Sullivan is confident he will get through the full 80 minutes.
The same though cannot be said of another recent injury absentee, prop John Hayes, who is named on the replacements’ bench as Marcus Horan and Reggie Corrigan team up alongside skipper Keith Wood in the Irish front-row.
“In a winger and a prop, you are looking at the opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of physical combat,” said O’Sullivan.
“John has done well in training and he will definitely get on at some point because he is such a good impact player but it wouldn’t make any sense to start with him at this stage of his recovery.”
Although Ireland boast a 100% record from their six meetings with Romania, by their own admission, they took the eastern Europeans too lightly in their last encounter in Dublin 12 months ago.
Though the home side eventually ran out 39-8 winners, they were troubled for long periods by the powerful Romanian pack and there is no sign the forward duel will be any less intense at the Central Coast Stadium this weekend.
However, Ireland know that if they can establish parity up front, their backs have a cutting edge that will rip their opponents apart.
And, though Brian O’Driscoll is usually touted as his side’s shining light, in Hickie they have a man bang in form, following up his four-try haul against Italy in August with another touchdown in the Murrayfield win over Scotland last month.
“I was injured during the summer, which prevented me from going on tour and that has probably kept me quite fresh,” he said.
“It doesn’t matter what your occupation is, your mind is always a bit clearer if you get some time off and to come back after that break and score the tries I have is bound to help my game.
“Everyone benefits from a confidence boost and hopefully I can continue that run here in Australia.”
