John O'Sullivantalks to Denis Leamy who will win his 30th cap.
Versatility can occasionally be a burden for some players but it sits easily on Denis Leamy's broad shoulders. The 26-year-old, who wins his 30th cap at Croke Park tomorrow, has spent a predominant segment of his Test career fulfilling the number-eight role.
He's played openside flanker and worn the number six jersey, completing the nap hand of backrow positions. Jamie Heaslip's selection at number eight for the Six Nations clash at the Stade de France saw Leamy adopt the blindside flanker's duties, a remit he'll fulfil against Scotland.
His athleticism and footballing intelligence facilitate his tour of the backrow positions as does his attitude. He just wants to play and doesn't care about the number on his back. "From a personal point of view I don't mind which position (in the backrow) I play. I am comfortable at six. I have played there a great deal for Munster and I'm happy to slot in there."
He's also enthused about playing alongside Heaslip and David Wallace in a fledgling backrow unit. "It is early days and we'll see how it pans out but certainly over the past match and a half there are a lot of positives to be excited about. We want to continue to improve as a unit and bring the best out in each other.
"I would know Wally's game very well as we have played together consistently for probably the last four years. We would have a good understanding. Jamie is someone I haven't played with, nor has Wally but we are learning to recognise each other's body language, picking up what fellas are going to do in certain situations.
"That'll come pretty quickly with a bit of communication. I would play a holding role while the boys would have more of a roving commission off set-piece, going off to forage while I hold the blindside."
It was his honesty in discharging that duty that got him into a bit of trouble for France's first try. The action seemed to evolve in slow motion, and while armed mentally with the likely sequence of events, it didn't make it any easier to counter.
"We had the ball and it was turned over. There was just John Hayes and myself on the blindside. I was left in two minds whether to push back but that would have left Jean Baptiste Elissalde with a simple pass to Vincent Clerc.
"I knew from the start I was in trouble, knowing there was no one behind me. I couldn't back off Elissalde. He kicked over my head well and it's very difficult against a player (Clerc) who is that quick. It's a feeling of utter helplessness."
Leamy's maturity and mental resolve guaranteed it didn't affect his performance: his second-half display in particular was brilliant. He acknowledges that he's now very comfortable in his surroundings but it wasn't always the case. "I came in as a 22-year-old into an Irish squad and even going further back as a 19-year-old into the Munster squad.
"I would be fairly shy and quiet in new surroundings and I was very, very intimidated as a youngster going into a new dressingroom in Munster. It took me a while to get to know the lads, to figure out what the craic was: as a schoolboy you're looking at these players who are your heroes. Suddenly you're put in front of them and you're in awe.
"It's the same with Ireland. It's a learning process and I am comfortable (now). You have to keep telling yourself to enjoy every match. It's a dream come true to be involved in this and you can never take it for granted."
The dynamics of playing against Scotland are simple, defined by the hand-to-hand combat up front. Leamy agrees: "Scotland are different to the French or Italians. Experience will tell you that it is important to physically get on top of a team like Scotland. You ultimately want to go out and play rugby but there is a lot of hard work to be done before you can do that.
"It's about rolling up your sleeves, making sure you get good ruck ball, winning your lineouts. You have to have that platform in place before you try and open up these guys."
