Healy has gas to light Ireland up

AS long-standing admirers of the qualities of Matt Healy, it has been good to see the Connacht winger return to fitness and form recently. That this has coincided with an upturn in his province’s performances is no surprise, Healy was a central figure in Connacht’s glorious march to the Pro12 title a couple of years ago. He is a serious talent and possibly the fastest back available to Ireland coach Joe Schmidt, who has capped the former Lansdowne man once — on the summer tour to South Africa in 2016. Injury and Connacht’s slide from that year’s heights have been factors but Healy looks an international quality operator who could have many more caps. That was certainly the opinion of the Grenoble players and French journalists after Healy (above) repeatedly ripped them apart during a Challenge Cup game in April 2016. That was at full-back, only the second time in his career he had donned the No15 jersey, and the 28-year-old looks ready to force his way into Ireland’s Six Nations plans. The back three is becoming a crowded area, even with Simon Zebo exiting the stage. All the talk has been of Jordan Larmour following his stunning solo try against Munster on St Stephen’s Day but Healy, and his wing man Niyi Adeolokun, can make similar statements on the same Thomond Park surface, selection permitting. Healy — who scored four tries against Brive last month — showed against Leinster at the RDS last Monday he has the ability to rip through even the most manned defence. Jacob Stockdale and Larmour have understandably been dominating the back three talk but don’t forget about Matt Healy — an in-form flyer with the gas to light up Ireland’s Six Nations.