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Cian Healy channels Garth Marenghi as he wants to go to dark place to beat Wales

Ireland loosehead Cian Healy says he'll need to go to a "dark place" to overcome Wales on Saturda...
Richie McCormack
Richie McCormack

16.48 4 Feb 2020


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Cian Healy channels Garth Marenghi as he wants to go to dark place to beat Wales


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Richie McCormack
Richie McCormack

16.48 4 Feb 2020


Share this article


Ireland loosehead Cian Healy says he'll need to go to a "dark place" to overcome Wales on Saturday at the Aviva. 

The Leinster man retains his place in the front row for the second Six Nations game of the season.

Andy Farrell's opted to make minimal changes to his side, despite the unconvincing nature of their 19-12 win over Scotland. The injured Garry Ringrose has been replaced in the centre by Robbie Henshaw. While the knock to the head sustained by Caelan Doris rules him out of the Welsh visit, with Peter O'Mahony restored to the back row.

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Last year's nadir of Ireland's Six Nations campaign came with a 25-7 defeat to Wales in Cardiff, with Joe Schmidt's side only getting on the scoreboard in injury time.

Despite the nature of the defeat, Healy insists Farrell's charges won't use memories of that display as fuel for Saturday's visit of Warren Pivac's side, "I wouldn't look back too much on that.

"I like to go in [with a] pretty clean slate in my mind. The motivation for me here is to succeed with this team and not looking for vengeance or revenge or anything like that, I want success with the lads around me.

Healy knows he'll have to tap his reserves if they're to register a victory on Saturday, "That means going to the well, to the dark place, to do what you have to do.

"That means doing the harder thing than the easier thing, that's probably what will become more enjoyable now if we come out of the weekend with a win, knowing that I've done that and put myself to that place."

The experienced front-rower showed quick hands in passing to Conor Murray en route to Ireland's try against Scotland, and Healy feels the whole side is equipped to show such initiative during the rest of the campaign.

Healy told Off The Ball's Stephen Doyle, "We don't want to be the heavies that aren't good enough on the ball, [we want] to be part of something that's constructive for the team.

"Everyone's getting their hands on balls, everyone's doing different skills. It's definitely a drive that everyone's fully comfortable that they can play whatever ball it is.

"If Johnny [Sexton] drops out you want anyone to be able step in and get a ball to 12 or 13. It's got to be pretty fluid with where you're able to go with the simple enough catch-pass."


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Andy Farrell Cian Healy Garth Marenghi Ireland Jonathan Sexton Scotland Six Nations Tadhg Furlong Wales

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