Jack Boyle: 'Cian Healy presented me with my cap, it was unbelievably special'

A more recent influence has been the “unbelievable” France veteran tighthead prop Rabah Slimani, who arrived at Leinster last summer.

HUNGRY FOR MORE: Jack Boyle received his first cap from idol Cian Healy and is soaking in his experience and expertise. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

A be-capped Jack Boyle chose to give a rendition of the Wild Rover in Cardiff on Saturday night as he marked his Ireland debut in the traditional manner but the 22-year-old prop had been equally on song in the heat of battle at Principality Stadium.

With his boyhood idol turned Leinster and Ireland squad-mate Cian Healy a reassuring presence at his side on the touchline, the loosehead rookie had had the benefit of his country’s record cap holder’s experience to tap into as they watched a difficult afternoon at the scrum unfold during the Guinness Six Nations clash.