Lean and mean Cian Healy ‘happy’ to be down to his fighting weight

Leaner, meaner and fighting fit, Cian Healy will face the Springboks tomorrow evening not only back to his pre-injury best but aiming to be better again.

The last four years have been blighted by serious injuries to ankle ligaments, a hamstring and the neck as Healy, now 30, has lost ground to Leinster team-mate Jack McGrath in the battle for the Ireland number one jersey.

Yet Healy has stuck to the task of regaining his pre-eminence among Irish loosehead props and, ironically, has made the most of McGrath’s absence, initially on the Lions tour this summer and then a hip injury last week to reposition himself as a Test starter.