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

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.

Wales had cleverly used the “dark arts” at scrum-time, as Ireland hooker and captain Dan Sheehan described them, to unsettle the Irish starting front row eking four first-half penalties in the first half.

Sheehan admitted it had taken Ireland too long to get the measure of their opponents at the set-piece but when Boyle made his entrance, replacing Andrew Porter for the final 10 minutes. With experienced tighthead Finlay Bealham having replaced fellow Test newcomer Thomas Clarkson earlier in the second half and the captain still in the middle, Boyle did not have long to make his interruptions, playing his part to earn his side a much-needed scrum penalty as Ireland protected what would be their match-winning 27-18 lead.

“We knew Wales would be an unbelievable test, the Principality is an unbelievable place to come and win,” Boyle said. “I just tried to prepare myself as best as possible for whatever minute I was going to be called upon. Luckily, I got on in the end and added a bit to the win in the end. It was good.

“It was a pretty quick run in to it, a quick morning. I didn’t have much time to think about the game too much, thankfully.

“The anthem was quite emotional, the lid closed at the Principality. That got to me a good bit, but it was unbelievably enjoyable. Even coming on there for eight, 10 minutes, the want that everybody had, the ruthlessness and the level that people get to.

“That’s something you strive to get to.” 

The “bit” Boyle added in the form of that scrum penalty was a moment to savour and he added: “It was brilliant actually, yeah. Me and Church (Healy) were having a few conversations on the sideline and thankfully his 20 years of experience and expertise came off.”

“Cian Healy was always an idol growing up and I suppose Johnny Sexton and Brian O’Driscoll but getting my cap from Cian Healy was a surreal feeling. It was incredibly special. That was on Thursday.

“There’s two unbelievable players and people ahead of me, Andrew Porter and Cian Healy.

“Cian Healy presented me with my cap, it was unbelievably special. I knew I’d have to bide my time, be patient. I know I need to keep improving, because they’re two unbelievable players ahead of me.

“It gives me a taster of what it’s like to play for Ireland, it only makes you hungry in the end.” 

Boyle had made his Leinster debut two seasons ago off the bench against Dragons and earned a first Champions Cup appearance earlier this season at Bristol Bears. He spoke of his admiration for the props at the province who have helped elevate him to Test level.

“They’ve been a massive, massive influence. I suppose when I came into the set-up two or three years ago, it was not only Church and Porter, but Tadhg Furlong as well, they’ve all been unbelievable people to me first and foremost; helping me off the pitch, making sure I have everything aligned so you can perform in training and perform if you get an opportunity.

“But look, it’s the small things really, it’s more so be yourself and enjoy the environment. Don’t be in yourself and don’t go into your shell. You need to express yourself as well. That was probably the main point from all of them.” 

A more recent influence has been the “unbelievable” France veteran tighthead prop Rabah Slimani, who arrived at Leinster last summer and played alongside Boyle in the previous weekend’s URC win at Ospreys.

“I was actually texting him during the week telling him I was on the bench and he was over the moon. We were rooming together over in Swansea last week against the Ospreys. He had his fingers crossed for me and thankfully it played out in the end.” 

With Slimani’s Leinster form earning him a recall to Fabien Gatlhie’s French squad at the age of 35, there is a possibility the friends could face each other when Les Bleus visit Dublin for what looks like a pivotal title decider with Ireland next up on March 8, two days before Boyle’s 23rd birthday.

“Look, we’ll see, we’ll see. It would be a bit of a surreal feeling considering we’ve won a few penalties together.

“I suppose I’d always back myself. I always expected myself to be playing the big games, playing in Europe with Leinster and I suppose playing well in the Principality here in the Six Nations.

“It’s a mix of respecting the lads ahead of you. ‘Church’ has obviously been an unbelievable player and servant, and Andrew Porter, one of the best in the world literally.

“So it’s a balance of learning off them but at the same time competing and putting your best foot forward to get a spot really.”