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Chances sustain confidence in Cian Healy's 'favourite' Ireland dressing room

The veteran prop feels the mood in the current camp is the best he has experienced.

IRELAND PLAYERS HAVE had ample time together during this elongated Six Nations-turned-Autumn window.

Yet while personnel have not quite gelled to deliver consistent, coherent on-field performances they have at done so off of it. The hope is that one can follow the other.

At 33 and with his 100th Test cap behind him, Cian Healy has taken a seat in Ireland squads of all shapes and sizes over the course of 12 years. This one, he insists, has the best mood about it.

“I would say it’s been the favourite one I’ve been in for mood of players and everyone being on the same page. Obviously, there’s different reasons that would heighten or lower different changing-rooms in different years, but I think we’re on the right track.”

This continuing affirmation of the intangible feelgood factor around a team which is on a run of defeats against England and is now giving sideways glances to Scotland as their closest European rival can’t but create a disconnect between those within and without the bubble.

We watch Ireland play on TV and the sight of empty seats is countered by fake crowd noise that tries to suggest a normality to proceedings. The players, meanwhile, are in an echo chamber striving to ‘create their own atmosphere’. There is nothing to be gained by them shunning any small positive.

There is too much prolonged time in camp to spend any of it wallowing. Days off, time away from camp, have been limited over the past two months and Healy notes that Carton House has had to substitute for home with the workday taking place down the road in Abbottstown.

The prop suggests that has actually made it easier to give the mind some down time each evening. That, and the squad’s organised fun in the form of darts, table tennis and putting competitions. Plus Finlay Bealham apparently tore it up on open mic night.

The coaches are not muted in Maynooth exactly, but once the squad is back in Carton House it’s for the players to lead. Whether it be a walk-through of a play or a time to forget about rugby for a while.

They are not spinning the silver linings out of a pig of a second half against Georgia on Sunday, but each player is singing off the same hymn-sheet. The chorus of voices insists they are very close to getting it right on the field.

cian-healy-on-his-100th-appearance-for-ireland Healy during his 100th Test against France. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

“It’s just about getting to that execution of that plan, the final phase.

“A lot of it, we’ve got through quite the amount of work we’ve done and slipped up on that last bit.

“I think that gives us confidence. If we’re not getting through that first part, then it gives us a problem. But we’re getting to the point where there’s half a chance, we just need that half chance turning into a full chance and then take it.

“We’re going in the right direction, to be honest.”

Direction is all well and good, but Healy is also aware that they have to show forward motion when they end the weirdest international year against Scotland.

“We have to leave this in a place where we come back and build on it, not where we come back and we patch up and do a load of repair to get to where we want to go.”

“So I suppose the performance that is expected to come this weekend has to be an all-round culmination of what we’ve done over the last couple of months and be a good standard of rugby.”

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    Mute Sean Crowe
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    Sep 12th 2020, 6:55 PM

    COYBIB

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    Mute B Collins
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    Sep 12th 2020, 8:01 PM

    Such a joy to watch ulster this week compared to Munster. So much variety in their play. Mathewson sniping, passing, kicking. Forwards carrying with impact but also offloading when appropriate. Much more effective. Hume and McCloskey look great in the centre.

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    Mute gabs90
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    Sep 12th 2020, 7:05 PM

    Let’s go Leinster!! Big day out for Ringrose

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    Mute T Dawg
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    Sep 12th 2020, 7:22 PM

    @gabs90: ya, biggest day of his career

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    Mute rugbyanbeer
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    Sep 12th 2020, 8:24 PM

    Leinster lineouts are keeping Ulster in the game

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    Mute David
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    Sep 12th 2020, 7:24 PM

    Looking forward to a good game and hopefully no injuries for both sides for next week. . Super selection from Leinster and what a bench. Leinster by 10+ for me.

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    Mute Just Some Guy
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    Sep 12th 2020, 7:19 PM

    Leinster will win

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    Mute Marty H
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    Sep 12th 2020, 8:35 PM

    I see Van Der Flier is Liam Tolands man crush this week

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    Mute Lance Write
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    Sep 12th 2020, 9:12 PM

    He’s a gas man. Giving Stockdale grief for crawling with the ball. But sure it was perfectly fine when a Leinster player did it to score against Munster.

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    Mute Chris Mc
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    Sep 12th 2020, 8:22 PM

    Half time and the leinster lineout is easily the worst in professional rugby.

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    Mute David Finn
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    Sep 12th 2020, 8:44 PM

    @Chris Mc: I think we need to end the hype that’s been surrounding Kelleher right now. Cronin is a better lineout thrower and that’s saying something!

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    Mute Chris Mc
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    Sep 12th 2020, 8:57 PM

    @David Finn: his throwing is pants but he’s a massive present arround the pitch

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    Mute Trevor Johnston
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    Sep 12th 2020, 9:30 PM

    @Chris Mc: yeah good around the pitch but on that performance about Irish no 4. He needs time.

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    Mute Chris Mc
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    Sep 13th 2020, 9:15 AM

    @Trevor Johnston: the leinster lineout has been too complicated for a good few seasons now. Far too many moving parts. Most of the balls lost yesterday came without any real presure from Ulster, lifters missed the jumper, some times the jumper didn’t even jump. A lineout should be very simple, your jumper gets into the air before theirs or get higher than theirs. Your hooker throws the ball to the big guy been lifted by 2 other big guys. All the dummies, moving arround and decoys just allows the line to close and the lifters to be obstructed or miss their position or timing.

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    Mute rugbyanbeer
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    Sep 12th 2020, 7:40 PM

    Game on great try

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    Mute Lance Write
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    Sep 12th 2020, 8:16 PM

    It’s good to see Ulster taking a leaf out of the Leinster playbook. Holding opposition players in nearly every ruck and starting to milk some penalties.

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    Mute rugbyanbeer
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    Sep 12th 2020, 9:24 PM

    Another trophy the invincibles
    Leinster Congratulations

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    Mute Dan Finlay
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    Sep 12th 2020, 9:03 PM

    People effuse about this morphing Leinster game plan, kicking on their terms and their love for defending but Ulster have been playing the better rugby for the majority of the game. I know Leinster are still winning but as a Leinster fan I expected a good bit more from Leinster tonight in preparation for Saracens. Doris has been quiet, Conan was petulant in the first half and it is not a day for Kelleher at line-out time. There have been moments when Leinster have shown good running rugby but the last phase fizzles out with an attacking penalty or picking the wrong option. We’ll need a better performance against Saracens, even without Farrell and Mako.

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    Mute Dan Finlay
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    Sep 12th 2020, 9:11 PM

    @Dan Finlay: and moments after posting Doris goes and scores.

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    Mute B Collins
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    Sep 12th 2020, 10:42 PM

    @Dan Finlay: Conan coughed up three penalties. Can not afford that against saracens.

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    Mute Conor HF
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    Sep 12th 2020, 8:14 PM

    Atrocious lineout from Leinster.

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    Mute David
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    Sep 12th 2020, 7:50 PM

    Great response.

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    Mute David
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    Sep 12th 2020, 9:10 PM

    Brilliant try.

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    Mute Anthony O Connell
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    Sep 12th 2020, 7:45 PM

    Great try! Very well worked. Come on ulster!

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    Mute Andrew Taz Donohoe
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    Sep 12th 2020, 8:47 PM

    Would be grand if Brace actually reffed Leinster. Let’s them away with murder at the breakdown

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    Mute Trevor Johnston
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    Sep 12th 2020, 9:51 PM

    @Andrew Taz Donohoe: fussy but fair

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    Mute David
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    Sep 12th 2020, 8:56 PM

    Here he comes. The Boss.

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    Mute rugbyanbeer
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    Sep 12th 2020, 7:52 PM

    Great try …..game over ..joking

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    Mute Rudiger McMonihan
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    Sep 12th 2020, 7:00 PM

    Anyone know if tg4 are showing this live or is it just discussions about the game starting at that time and the kick off being shown later on?

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    Mute Donogh O'Laighin
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    Sep 12th 2020, 7:04 PM

    @Rudiger McMonihan: I’m pretty sure it’s live

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    Mute Nathan Fulham
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    Sep 12th 2020, 9:11 PM

    Ulster happy to be in final, same as Heineken cup a few years back they failed to throw a punch… embarrassing

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    Mute Trevor Johnston
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    Sep 12th 2020, 9:27 PM

    @Nathan Fulham: you can only play as well as you are allowed. Leinster in total control.

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    Mute Michael Hayes
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    Sep 12th 2020, 7:55 PM

    SUFTUM

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    Mute Jimmy Cully
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    Sep 12th 2020, 9:54 PM

    Terrible commentators

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