FORMER IRELAND INTERNATIONAL Jamie Heaslip has backed Caelan Doris to make the step up to Test rugby, describing the 21-year-old as ‘the best number eight in Ireland.’
Doris will win his first cap for Ireland this Saturday having been named in the team to face Scotland by new head coach Andy Farrell.
And while his selection represents a massive show of faith in the player from Farrell, former Ireland number eight Heaslip believes his inclusion is fully warranted.
“I don’t think it’s a big step. He is more than capable of playing international rugby,” Heaslip said.
“In a metaphorical sense, yes, club rugby to international rugby [is a big step]. For the standard and level that he is playing at and capable of, I think he will take it in his stride.
“I would definitely have him there. I think he’s the best number eight in Ireland right now. He’s probably the form back row in Ireland right now.
“I think he has a great ability to play both sides of the ball, and be able to play both sides of the ball well and do a lot on both sides. I think his mindset and, let’s call it his grunt, that relentless nature to keep showing up and coming back, and doing it as consistently as he is, is what is getting him the starting spot this weekend. But again, with that comes a lot of pressure.
“It’s international footy now, so the room for error is that bit smaller than European rugby, you can argue that no team has challenged Leinster, so the room for error of what he is used to this season, versus what is coming down the line with international rugby, will be bigger. He’s got to react to that. And let’s see. But you don’t know until you give the kid a go. It’s great to see that he’s got the nod and I’m excited to see him.
“I think he has the potential to be around for a very, very long time. But he’s got heat. I’m very surprised that Max Deegan or Jack O’Donoghue didn’t get the nod on the bench, but credit where credit is due, Pete [O'Mahony] has shown enough over the last couple of years to warrant that. But he’s under pressure now, Caelan is under pressure now, CJ [Stander] is under pressure, Josh [van der Flier] as well, and we’re not even getting into the conversation of Jack Conan coming back, Dan Leavy coming back, someone like Scott Penny coming up through the system as well. It’s a good position to be in.”
Doris’ selection is part of a number of changes to an Ireland starting team that had become increasingly predictable under Joe Schmidt.
During a disappointing 2019 campaign, Ireland’s back row came in for criticism for failing to make to desired impact in big games.
Heaslip, who won 95 caps for Ireland before his retirement in 2018, says that the requirements of a back row is changing as the game evolves.
“The game is getting faster, the game is getting quicker. I don’t think the volume of distance [a player covers] is changing a whole lot. The percentage of high speed running is changing in the game and the ball is in play longer nowadays,” Heaslip continued.
“You need players that are able to go the distance and play at speed, take the contacts and get back up and go again. You need players that are multi-faceted as well. The times of a guy being good on one side of the ball, and good at only doing one thing on one side of the ball, there’s not a whole lot of those days left for players.
“That’s where some players are potentially feeling the pressure come on because you have a crop of players coming through who can do many things. That means you’ve got to do that one thing unbelievably well because there’s someone who can do that and other [things]. It’s a good headache for coaches.
“It’s going to be interesting to see the evolution in the style of play. Joe has laid a really good foundation for this team. It would be really interesting to see what layer Andy and his coaching staff put on top.”
Jamie Heaslip was speaking at the launch of the Aviva Sensory Hub, Aviva’s latest initiative to make Aviva Stadium a more inclusive space. For more information follow Aviva on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook using #SafeToDream or visit www.aviva.ie/sensoryhub
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
Heaslip would want to reel his neck in. The best no.8 in Ireland is Marcell Coetzee. After that it’s stander and it’ll continue to be until Doris gets a run of caps and a lions test under his belt. People give out about commenters in message boards being parochial but the paid pundits are the worst.
@Jim Demps: Agree about Coetzee but think he’s playing better than Stander at the moment and has more strings to his bow.
He can’t do much about Lions caps right now so that’s a silly bar to set. He is first choice 8 though pushing Stander to 6 so backs Heaslips comments up…
@Jim Demps: fully agree with you Jim. People shouldn’t be getting too carried away with Doris just yet he’s still only 21. Good to see you back commenting again by the way
@Jim Demps: so Ryan isn’t the best lock in Ireland until he gets lions under his belt? I think Heaslip means Irish number 8.
@LP: ah sound. Doris is class, the whole world in front of him. Let him out and play without anointing him with silly titles like that and heaping pressure on him and giving people a stick to beat him with. Heaslip should know better.
@Axel Beckett: hes got the run of caps that I mentioned though doesn’t he?
@Jim Demps:
Do you not think it was a flippant slip of the tongue to spark debate and keep his name in the press for a few hours or days at least.
Even the dogs in the street know it’s the Ulster number 8 that is possibly the top performer in Ireland over every position just now.
I am equally looking forward to watching Doris at 8 and Stander at 6 as we need cover for the middle of the back row. Stander is an excellent 8 but I alway fear him getting injured as the next in line Conan was a large drop down in ability.
I like Stander at 6 and he never lets the team down and for this reason I would always want to find a place for him. He and Doris give us more ball carrying firepower along with big defence hits.
In the future I think this is the back row with Dan coming back at 7
@Jim Demps: Yeah, what would Heaslip know about playing number 8 at test level
@Jim Demps: if only you reeled your own neck in during your playing days, we wouldn’t have to listen to your concussion-based gibberish.
@Jim Demps: ah Jim you’ve been missed. Your ability to try provoke outrage is without equal. Heaslip is entitled to his opinion just like your are. No need for the confrontational aggressive language.
@Jim Demps: any chance his comment related to Irish qualified player’s only Jim? Nah, you’d never consider that in your fit of anti Heaslip outrage!!
@Jim Demps: welcome back. What a straw man to start with; you have a month’s worth of next built up to throw about now.
@Jim Demps: I agree with stander but lions is a silly point to make.
@Jim Demps: Pretty sure by Ireland he meant qualified for Ireland. And Stander might be in the running for best 6 in Ireland but I wouldn’t put him in the top 3 at 8. Dorris is a far more rounded player than him.
@Jim Demps: I didn’t even realise doris was the best number 8 in leinster for a start
@Jim Demps: I can’t wait for the article on Heaslip’s opinion that Joe Schmidt is Ireland’s greatest ever rugby coach.
Or better yet the piece on “Why Jamie Heaslip is twice the player Donnacha Ryan ever was”.
@Jim Demps: nonsense, if CJ was better than Doris at 8 then he’d be playing 8… he’s a limited 8 and you’d see that if you took your Munster goggles off – he makes hard yards with lots of small carries but has limited speed and limited passing ability. CJ is a better blindside flanker and that’s his best position
@Andy Dwyer: correct Heaslip was twice the player Ryan is.
@BMJF: wouldn’t you be better off waiting to see Doris at international level before proclaiming him as better than cj? I think Doris looks the real deal but cj has done it at the top level for a long time against serious teams. A couple of years ago conan was going to show cj how it’s done at international level, here was the real deal with all the skills and though he did OK he was a few notches below cj at that level. I’d have high hopes for Doris, he looks a terrific player but as Jim rightly said, why proclaim him as the second coming? Give the young lad a chance to play his way in without heaping even more pressure on him
@Umpaloompa: @Jim Demps : Coetzee best 8 in Ireland. Stander best 6 and overall backrow player in Ireland. He’s a great player not an 8. Blindside is where he’s at home and flourishes.
Wouldn’t say he’s under pressure considering he’s just moved back to his better position.
Doris is best Irish qualified number 8 because of great skill set , footwork mixed with physicality but Stander the better of the two.
Always amazes me that Heaslip never praises Stander for his efforts at 6 when they played together for 2 years. Always get the impression Heaslip was a bit jealous of Standers physical ball carrying , tackle counts and quality turnovers and is probably aware of Standers probably aware of CJs popularity among coaches and fans.
@Ger: Stander never was an 8 – in that regard Coetzee , Doris & Deegan are better.
He is however head and shoulders the best 6 and could make a strong argument for best forward with James Ryan for his engine , strength in the carry & breakdown ability
@Jim Demps: That didn’t take long, guess it was nice while it lasted…
@John Carey: how’s he never been an 8 when he’s been nailed on 8 for Ireland for more than the last 2 years?
@Jim Demps: Doris is a better player than Stander RIGHT NOW. It’s not that hard to understand. What Stander has done in the past is irrelevant.
Heaslip is saying Doris is a better player now and it’s hard to disagree with that looking at how both performed in Europe in recent months. Not everything is a dig at Munster.
@Robb Stark: I wouldn’t mind seeing how Doris goes with the pack on the back foot and he’s dealing with sh*t ball before declaring him as ireland best nó. 8
@Kohn Jeenan: He’s played 8 but it doesn’t suit his style of play ( he’s always been nailed on just not in his best position)
@Tim Magner: the answer to every leinster players form is its easy to play in a team going forward, how do you think leinster get this go forward ball?
@Chris Mc: a really good tight 5 Chris, there’s 3 of them playing on sat with another 3 on the bench. Not to mention fardy. But leinster have played no pack this year that’ll come even close to the strength of England, Wales or France. I wasn’t knocking Doris at all, I think he’s a class act. But I’d prefer to see him perform at the top level before I’d make a claim like heaslip did
@Tim Magner: Completely agree Tim. No matter how good a player is, you need to see him on the back foot and against the best. Next week against Moriarty would be a brilliant match up.
@Axel Beckett: I’ve no doubt the lad will make it axel, he’s as well rounded an 8 as we’ve seen in Ireland in a long tíme and I’d nearly put money on him now starting for the lions in 2 yrs time with the injury profile of Billy v & faletau. I still want to see him perform at the highest level though. By the way, great call on the Irish selection
@John Carey: Yup he’s the best 6 in the squad on form. I think POM from 2018 and before was a better all round player but he is not the same player. I actually think that Leavy could end up playing 6 for Ireland when he comes back. I know he has played 7 for Ireland but some of the best performances I’ve seen from him for Leinster has been at 6. His game is perfect for 6. The make up of the back row will change a lot over the next few seasons, lots of good players coming through. But I doubt we’ll see Stander at 8 again except for multiple injuries.
@Ger: Stander was always a better player the O’Mahony for Munster and Ireland.
Big Leavy fan myself but he’s a real 7. Can’t see Farrell dropping CJ (especially when VDF is more expendable). I think Dan and CJ will be the two consents in the Irish backrow for the next four to five years
@Ger: it’s amazing how quickly people forget how good stander was/is as a no. 8. He played all of 2018 in that position and he excelled. If pom was motm v nz that year then stander wasn’t very far behind, they were the 2 outstanding players, amongst many, on the pitch. Doris looks a serious prospect and the Jersey should be his. I wouldn’t be as blown away by deegan as some are, he’s a serious athlete and I think he’ll excel against weaker opposition where he can look very flashy. At the top level though the line breaks aren’t as easy to come by and he’s shown nothing yet that he’s prepared to get stuck into the less glamorous parts of the job, in a lot of ways he’s similar to conan
@Tim Magner: I agree with you re Degan and Conan. I think Deegan can improve but he will need to to force his way into the 23 at test level. Not sure what Conan will be like when he’s back and everyone is fit. Probably won’t make the squad. I don’t fully agree with you re Stander. I do agree he definitely played well in 2018 but the entire team were playing well then. I think he does what he does well but he is too 1 dimensional for test level at number 8. The modern 8 needs to be a good footballer as well as being able to do the donkey work. Stander just isn’t a great footballer. He is far superior at 6.
@Matt Fagan: I always though Heaslip played on the wing !
Obviously he means the best Irish number 8 playing in Ireland. But yes Coetzee is light years ahead of any number we have available to us.
@Ray Ridge: that’s too sensible a comment for some lads to consider!!
@Ray Ridge: Agreed, very clearly talking in the context of the international squad.
Feel people are harsh on CJ . He’s always been a blindside flanker more then an 8 but Schmidt moved him there for most of 2018 & 2019 because he was the only forward physically able to fulfill that role being the first receiver into heavy traffic.
IMO he’s a better blindside flanker (6) then Deegan , Conan , Doris or even Heaslip in the last few years of his career.
They’re better footballers but he’s a better forward with more physicality , breakdown work , higher tackle counts and a stronger hard yard game and work ethic.
In 2016 & 2017 he was forward of the 6 Nations. Then when he played there only 4 times in 2018 & 2019 he collected MOTM awards against Australia , France , Scotland (3/4 possible awards).
@John Carey: he’s a better blindside flanker then Deegan , Doris or Heaslip are 8’s
Save it for the podcast Jamie.
@Rory Craig: seriously, as good as the young man is he still has to go prove it at international level and all this bigging him up is not bloody helping him. He’s a young man just out of U20′s, I for one wont be analysing him too harshly Sunday morning. Step by step
Have people forgotten that Stander was our best player at the world cup, playing at no 8? Not so long ago Heaslip was spouting that Conan was the best no 8 in the country. Soon Max Deegan will be getting the same treatment. Doris is getting a great chance now. Let him play a few games there before spouting this drivel.
Heaslip commenting on a Leinster player is “high praise”? Would you be doing well.
Wonder will we hear it on his podcast?
Heaslip was unreal in his first game as captain vs Italy. Knocked on the kick off. His opinion should be valued highly.
@t: how did you get on on your debut as Irish captain?
Just confirms what I always thought about Neeslip. Winker!!!!!!!!
Can’t wait to see that back row! Dynamic & the perfect balance.
Christ Heaslip would you let the kid play without the hyperbole and kicking Stander and Deegan in the nuts
Haven’t you got a test to go to Jamie???
In form 9 and 10 are probably fantastic also Jamie
Who cares ?? Ireland are full of shi.t , players left themselves down at world cup and are not as good as they think they are !!!
Yawn. Who cares. Premiership soccer is back this Saturday. The Irish rugby goys building nicely for the 2022 Autumn Internationals.
@Valthebear: so is Swedish hand ball, polish net ball and Moldovan archery. Exciting times indeed!!
I’m surprised they pushed him in at 8 with his size and natural ability 6 looks be a good option especially when POM is out at lineout time