Hearn focusing on the processes

Ciaran Hearn joined London Irish following a successful 2015 Rugby World Cup Campaign, with the Canadian centre being named in the Tier Two Team of the Tournament after a string of fine displays.

The Newfoundland native has settled in quickly at London Irish, starting both of the Exiles’ last two Aviva Premiership matches and Hearn says he has found settling in very easy at Hazelwood.

“I have settled in very well,” he said. “The boys are great and welcomed me with open arms. It has all been really great, really nice boys and I am really enjoying it.”

The start of the season has been a tough one for the Exiles, but Hearn is confident the team are on the right path.

“Nobody wants to have a losing record and be at the bottom of the table,” said Hearn. “But we have to take the positives out of what we have done and also look at the negatives and try to rectify them.

“If we do that and take care of our structures and individual performances then our team performance will come out of it.”

And the team are moving in the right direction, their first half performance at Kingsholm saw them take an impressive 6 – 14 lead into half-time, with Hearn among the try scorers.

“It was good to get a monkey off the back and hopefully I can do it again,” said Hearn of his first try in London Irish colours. “But I’m not really worried about the individual things I am just focused on the team aspect.”

A second half comeback from Gloucester saw the hosts storm to victory, but Hearn is adamant the squad will learn the lessons from Kingsholm.

“It was one of those momentum shifts that happens in every kind of sport. There are going to be shifts in a game but it is about how you deal with those.

“You can see the momentum shifting after a few penalties but it is how you deal with it and I think we have learned how we to do that.

“In the future when we get into those situations we can look back on that game and know what to do.”

This weekend sees the Exiles welcome Newcastle, who are just one place above them in the table, to the Madejski Stadium in a crucial match at the half-way point of the season.

“It is going to be a big game but every game is a big game,” said Hearn of the encounter.

“You have to look at the processes of the game, you can’t look at the outcomes. If you worry about the outcomes you wont get the processes right so that is how you have to look at it.

“You have to focus on your individual actions phase to phase and minute to minute and if you can get those right then we will come away with the ‘W’.

“You can expect them to run hard, they are skilled guys, big guys. They are going to retain the ball and kick their penalties.

“But we are only really looking at our game and fix our game, get our game right and then we will have a good shout of coming out on top.”

Tickets are still available for London Irish v Newcastle on Sunday 10^th January (kick-off 1pm) by calling 1008 968 1016 or via www.lidirect.co.uk