Ben Healy fitting right in ahead of World Cup bow for Scotland

FITTING IN: Scotland's Ben Healy during a training session at the Stade Pierre Mauroy. Pic: Adam Davy/PA Wire

Ben Healy is just a wet week and three caps into his Scotland career but his impact on Gregor Townsend’s squad can be measured in more than just those initial appearances or the 14 points contributed from the boot.

If fitting in on the pitch is the ultimate aim then working yourself into the grooves and the idiosyncrasies of a new group dynamic is an integral part of the same process and the signs are that the former Munster man has been quick to find his feet.

Teammate Grant Gilchrist revealed this week that his new colleagues have adopted the ‘Sherman’ nickname that was bestowed on him by Keith Earls for a resemblance to the character of the same name in the ‘American Pie’ movies.

The slagging is a good sign and its backed up by Gilchrist’s effusiveness about the man and the player and by the words of Healy himself who got his feet under the table in the last Six Nations at a time when he was still under contract in Limerick.

The year has been full of landmark moments for him and Saturday brings another in the form of a World Cup debut as he starts at No 10. Good and all as that is, there is also the small matter of its role as audition for an involvement next week when they play Ireland in Paris.

Healy has played three times for Scotland now but he has sat out four others since that debut last spring against Italy and he didn’t make the matchday squad for the opening World Cup loss to South Africa in Marseille.

This is a big occasion for him in a number of ways.

“I’m just focusing on getting out there, [against Romania] trying to have as much fun as possible and winning,” he said. “We know what we need from this game. There’s no point looking to next week and not getting what we want on Saturday.” 

Townsend has waxed lyrical about a character whose confidence on the field is obvious in the manner in which he directs his pack and in the volume and depth of a contribution in team meetings which is the equal of Finn Russell.

The head coach also described a man who doesn’t take himself too seriously when the work is done and that laidback side was echoed this week in Healy’s dismissal of questions about the pressure on him as Russell’s replacement in Lille this evening.

If anything, he has embraced the chance to study the best at close range.

“I’ve learned a huge amount. He’s been in the jersey for the last number of years. It’s important for a ten coming up to have guys to learn off. I’ve been very fortunate through coaches and players, I’ve learned off some brilliant outside-halves.

“I had Stephen Larkham for numerous years at Munster, then came here and I’ve had Gregor. I’ve taken a bit from multiple sources. Finn’s been great. He’s real open, very honest: great leader within the group.”