Healy: Insults were a spur

CIAN HEALY has revealed that “insulting” criticism of Ireland’s front row inspired them to develop into one of the World Cup’s strongest units.

The Irish scrum was an area of weakness until Mike Ross became first choice tighthead during this year’s RBS 6 Nations, resulting in a dramatic change of fortunes. Healy, Ross and Rory Best are now capable of matching any side at the set piece and claimed their most pleasing scalp yet when they demolished Australia’s scrum in Auckland last month.

“As a whole the front row are in a very good place. We’ve worked extremely hard to get where we are,” said Healy.

“It was insulting in the past when people said that we weren’t a reliable unit and that we couldn’t give our top-class backs what they wanted.

“It’s motivational when people talk about you in those terms. As a unit we took it personally.

“It’s not nice being told you’re not good at what you do, that some of the best backs in the world can’t play because they don’t have the ball.

“It was a heads-down situation, let’s get on with it. (Scrum coach) Greg Feek came in and Mike Ross really stood up and took hold of the front row unit. The scrum has started to turn into much more of a force for us and it’s something we’re pretty proud of now.”