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Cian Healy talks resurgence, Jack McGrath relationship and Marty Moore's return

At one time, there were worries about Cian Healy's playing future. Struggling with a neck injury ...



Cian Healy talks resurgence, J...
Rugby

Cian Healy talks resurgence, Jack McGrath relationship and Marty Moore's return

At one time, there were worries about Cian Healy's playing future.

Struggling with a neck injury which required surgery in 2015 and also having suffered some nerve damage, had left his career in doubt.

But from the evidence of his recent form with Leinster and Ireland, the prop looks back to his best. 

"Really happy with everything, with how camp has been and getting a chance to play again," Healy told OffTheBall.com's Neil Treacy of a turnaround in fortunes on the pitch.

"I'm really enjoying rugby so it's very positive."

He also spoke of the positive relationship that he shares with his rival for the No 1 shirt for both Leinster and Ireland, Jack McGrath.

"It's a good working relationship and it has to be. If you're in a negative mindset, you're not going to be doing the best for the team and now we have to work together with that bit of competition is important," he said.

Jack McGrath and Cian Healy ©INPHO/Cathal Noonan

"And then when we come in here and Killer [Dave Kilcoyne] is added to the dynamic as well where we're not as used to him as we would be in our Leinster environment. We have to open that up to a trio and start working as a trio and how we can best scrummage and best look after the team."

And given the attritional nature of the challenge posed by Argentina, including up front, this weekend, he admitted that they had been "killing each other" a little bit in terms of intensity in training to be prepared for having the edge needed.

"We've got to be fully amp-ed up for it and we try to train as how we play," said Healy.

He's also looking forward to the return of fellow prop and former Ireland and Leinster team-mate Marty Moore, who will join Ulster.

"I met up with him there for a coffee a few weeks ago and he was telling me he was thinking along those lines and it's positive. It's good to have another Irish prop back in Ireland."

And he's glad to see the competition from the younger generation of props: "Lads want to have a chance and a pop at people and the more competitive the training sessions get, the better. You've got academy lads coming in, taking on guys at the scrum and that's brilliant and I can see some of the young lads bulling up and you get a little smile out of the back of it. They're not sheepish anymore."

 

 

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