With Joe Brolly departing from RTÉ this month, our national broadcaster has taken some flack for sidelining its more entertaining sports analysts in favour of bland, safe pundits. Well, its Rugby World Cup coverage has been fascinating to watch this morning, with a bold backrow pairing of Eddie O'Sullivan, Jamie Heaslip and Stephen Ferris fielded in a studio the size of county Louth.
The beef between Heaslip and O'Sullivan is long-lasting and well-documented.
In 2018, Heaslip revealed a very tense conversation between himself and the then-Ireland manager, and the profound effect it had on motivating him throughout his career.
“The last time I had a conversation with Eddie he said I was too 'small, too weak' for international rugby."
“He also said to me that I would never play international rugby playing white boots and that is the reason why I pretty much wear white boots most of the time.”
In 2015, Heaslip had divulged to Murray Kinsella the details of how O'Sullivan told him he wouldn't play for Ireland in the 2007 World Cup, basically by dropping him in the doorway of his hotel room.
“Nothing happens and it comes to about 11 o’clock and I’m in my room.
“Then I get a knock, knock, knock on the door.
“It’s just me in the room and I was thinking ‘Fuck.’
“It was weird, Eddie wouldn’t even come into the room. He just says ‘You haven’t made it’. “I was like ‘Why?’
“He says ‘I don’t think you’re big enough, I don’t think you’re strong enough and that’s why.’
During RTE's build-up to Japan v Russia this morning, the tension between the pairing was notieceable, especially when discussing refereeing at the World Cup
Tackling the tackle. @jamieheaslip, @StephenFerris6 and @TheRealEddieOS close to seeing red as they debate the propect of more red cards at #rwc2019
Live coverage of @JRFURugby v @russiarugby on 📺 @RTE2 and 📱@RTENewsNow app #rterugby pic.twitter.com/HtE9x0cgtl— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) September 20, 2019
The pair also disagreed about Ireland's defensive frailties.
'Four or five teams can win it and it's all about peaking at the right time' - @StephenFerris6 on how events at #RWC2019 might unfold
Live coverage of @JRFURugby v @russiarugby on 📺 @RTE2 and 📱@RTENewsNow app #rterugby pic.twitter.com/XUJg2QFBgF— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) September 20, 2019
The awkwardness has been commented by many viewers on social media.
Eddie O'Sullivan is talking some load of shite already. Jamie Heaslip will kill him before this tournament is over.
— Kieran Mc (@lovesmelife) September 20, 2019
Bit awkward in RTE studios between Heaslip and Eddie. 😂 pic.twitter.com/8ILiDwAZDJ
— jvo (@PopeyeDoyle100) September 20, 2019
Look on Heaslip’s face listening to Cooder 🤣 pic.twitter.com/Ao5NCeogKS
— Daithí Ó'S (@hakaman) September 20, 2019
Rugby will bring many people together over the next two months, and perhaps O'Sullivan and Heaslip can patch things up over punditry.
