Heaslip calls for Irish discipline

Jamie Heaslip has cautioned Ireland over the need to play a structured game against Fiji in tomorrow’s non-cap international.

Heaslip calls for Irish discipline

Jamie Heaslip has cautioned Ireland over the need to play a structured game against Fiji in tomorrow’s non-cap international.

Sevens specialists Fiji thrive on broken play and Heaslip knows the danger that awaits at Thomond Park if they are gifted open space.

Ireland were beaten 16-12 by South Africa last Saturday and conclude their Guinness Series against Argentina in a critical IRB rankings points showdown in eight days time.

“We’ve looked at what we did right and what we done wrong against South Africa and then started focusing on Fiji,” the Lions number eight said.

“With Fiji we’ll have top focus on ourselves. They’re sevens world champions so they like an expansive game.

“At times the game can get a little bit fractured which they thrive on. We have to focus on ourselves, our structures and patterns.

“We have to concentrate on the basics because of the new faces and that’s what we’ve been doing this week.

“We hit the ground running on Monday and everyone’s been really focused. I can’t wait to get out there.”

Kidney has named a young side against Fiji at Thomond Park featuring a trio of Ulster debutants in centre Luke Marshall, wing Craig Gilroy and fly-half Paddy Jackson.

Heaslip is one of three players retained from the XV defeated by South Africa, a result that saw Ireland extend their losing sequence to five Tests.

“This is the third week of a good camp. The lads have been going well in training and there’s a lot of excitement around. It’s a good place to be,” Heaslip said.

Scrum-half Conor Murray and tighthead Mike Ross complete the surviving trio from the Springboks match, a game Ireland led 12-3 at half time.

In-form Ulster scrum-half Paul Marshall features on a strong bench that includes Cian Healy, Donnacha Ryan and Jonathan Sexton.

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