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Heaslip score named men’s 15s try of the decade

Jamie Heaslip scores their fourth try 12/3/2016
Jamie Heaslip’s magnificent score for Ireland against Italy in the 2016 Championship has been named World Rugby’s Men’s 15s Try of the Decade.

Jamie Heaslip’s magnificent score for Ireland against Italy in the 2016 Championship has been named World Rugby’s Men’s 15s Try of the Decade.

The former Ireland back rower beat stiff competition from nine other tries to take the award at the annual celebration after receiving the most public votes.

Chris Ashton (England vs Australia, 2010), Radike Samo (Australia vs New Zealand, 2011) and Bryan Habana (South Africa vs NZ, 2012) were among those who missed out to Heaslip.

Beauden Barrett (NZ vs France, 2013), Francois Hougaard (SA vs NZ, 2014), Julian Savea (NZ vs France, 2015), Joaquin Tuculet (Argentina vs England, 2017), Broadie Retallick (NZ vs Australia, 2018) and JT Perenara (NZ vs Namibia, 2019) were also nominated.

But Heaslip’s memorable finish following a sensational team move from Ireland in their 58-15 victory over the Azzurri in the 2016 Championship claimed the ultimate prize.

Speaking about the score, Heaslip said: “Looking at it, there were nine different passes and I think six people touched it and I was the only forward so I’m going to take this on behalf of all forwards.

“We got on the end of something eventually. This is one I will actually put on the mantel piece, I literally have one other award up in my office beside my caps.

“That’s the award I got for contribution to the game off the field and this try is very much a team try, nine passes, six players involved, as well as players working off the ball.

“Keith Earls comes to mind as he kind of gets taken out of it, running a hard line and not getting the pass, so thanks Earlsy for taking one for the team. I love that it was a team try.

“When you look at some of the tries that were up for the award there were some absolutely amazing tries, unbelievable individual brilliance from players.

“But I think this try shows the values of what rugby and World Rugby is about.”

The Ireland No.8’s try was one of two he scored in the 2016 Championship victory over Italy, with Heaslip finishing off a brilliant team score which went almost the length of the field.

With 30 seconds remaining in the first half, and Ireland just outside their own 22, Joe Schmidt’s team showed their ambition by spreading the ball wide.

A clever wrap-around from Johnny Sexton opened up a half gap for Simon Zebo. He juggled the ball but broke the line before a brilliant offload to Jared Payne.

The Ulster centre got away down the right wing before finding Sexton in support inside him. The full-back then delivered the ball to Andrew Trimble who carried into the 22.

He, in turn, found Fergus McFadden, who slipped one tackle and looked to have an open run to the line. However, with Leonardo Sarto coming back, McFadden found Heaslip who had the pace and power to force his way over.