WITH 40 CAPS already for Ireland at the age of 26, Cian Healy has been something of a phenomenon.
He burst onto the scene as an incredibly physically-developed schoolboy, before making his Leinster debut in 2007 against the Border Reivers. His international bow came two years later, when he became an instant first-choice for Ireland at the age of just 22.
He has won Heineken Cups and been on a Lions tour, making his career a constant reel of highlight after highlight. One unchanging facet throughout, as well as pure success, has been the Clontarf man’s ability to consistently improve. But having made himself Ireland’s undisputed premier loosehead prop over the last few seasons, there had been a danger of stagnation due to a lack of competition.
Fear not, because Jack McGrath has lumbered into the one horse town that was Ireland’s number one shirt and made a genuine gunfight of it. Healy is not afraid to admit he’s feeling the pressure.
Yeah, bloody right but that’s healthy. I’m hoping that it’s going to push me in my game as well and when there is someone that good around as well, you’ve got to be really on form. If you slip up with how you are playing, there is someone there to step in.”
Following his man of the match performance on debut against Samoa last weekend, McGrath spoke of that healthy competition he has with Healy and mentioned that he is still learning from the elder prop’s experience. Healy agrees that this concurrence is of benefit to both players.
“It’s been great watching Jack because when he got included he was just constantly plugging away and working on the finer details. He has constantly plugging at it, wanting to learn and asking for stuff. Then we are put together in the gym or if we are with each other in scrummaging, we’re tagging in and out.
“We are constantly learning off each other. It’s not like I’m not learning anything off him as well. We are bouncing things off each other and what to do different week in and week out. It’s a nice little team we are getting up.”
Still, the 26-year-old will be eager to show the extra power he brings if he is given the starting nod against Australia, as expected. One of the things that has always made Healy stand out from other props is his extraordinary pace and carrying power.
That element of his game hasn’t been as apparent this season yet, but there is more to come. Healy also points out that the set-piece will always be his priority.
I like getting on the ball and getting a run and stuff but that is what you get to do when you get everything else done. Kind of first priority is getting the rucks done, scrums, lineouts, all that and if I have any energy left I’ll get onto a ball or two and try and make a run.”
Healy would relish the chance to play from the start against Australia, and is focused on ensuring that he and his teammates are focused on the immediate task at hand.
“[We] go game by game. We are going out to win them all. It’s not going to be hoping to do well against Australia and hope to maybe come close to New Zealand. We are a team that looks for success in everything, so the best way to take that is game by game.”
