Heaslip has sights on World Cup to complete medal set
Jamie Heaslip is confident that having a World Cup tournament so close to home will be of massive benefit to Ireland. Photo: INPHO/Dan Sheridan
The World Cup kicks off in exactly a year's time and Ireland vice-captain Jamie Heaslip admits the quarter-final defeat to Wales in 2011 still gnaws at him.
The Webb Ellis trophy is the one piece of silverware the Leinster skipper has yet to get his hands on during a glittering career and he says he will be crossing the Irish Sea with the goal of winning the tournament outright.
Ireland coach Joe Schmidt has stated his goal of reaching the last four, while IRFU performance director David Nucifora has said the team should be capable of winning the tournament.
The frustration of the 2011 exit still lingers for the Ireland players and Heaslip is looking to put that result right.
"It's the only thing I haven't won," he said. "I play to win. I don't play to take part.
"It is quite hard for a player to be thinking about that because I am thinking about playing Connacht this Friday.
"That is kind of where my head is at, but people like Joe and the management team and coaching staff, I can guarantee you they have probably thought past the World Cup. He's probably 15 months down the line and that's what we need.
"I know last time there was a good bit of frustration in terms of the fact we could have and should have beaten Wales on the day.
"I just think back to what it was like and the fact that we could have got to a World Cup semi-final and we probably have a bit more practice in that tournament format than some other teams from the European Cup."
Although the uptake of tickets has been slow to date, Heaslip is confident that having a tournament so close to home will be of massive benefit to Ireland.
"There is the fact as well that it might as well be at home. We all know people in London and Cardiff and it will be more or less like playing in Dublin so there are a lot of things going for us there," he said.
