Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
O’CONNELL’S TREAT
Healy: Legend Paul has lit a fire in all of us & now we just have to keep on fanning flames
HE has been on the wrong end of a Paul O’connell ‘death stare’ but Cian Healy believes the legend’s presence has added life to Ireland’s Triple Crown bid this week.
Ireland coach Andy Farrell made the savvy move of inviting O’connell into camp ahead of the vital Twickenham trip.
The ex-ireland captain was renowned for his inspirational pre-match speeches – most famously the ‘manic aggression’ delivery before Ireland’s first-ever game in Croke Park in 2007.
Four years later, he got Ireland revved up before hammering England at Lansdowne Road.
“I always love listening to
O’connell during England week,” said Andrew Trimble later. “He’s always got something special to say and it always has the desired effect. He never lets you down during an England week.
“He’s massively motivated and that inspiration filtered through. Everybody was unbelievably up for it.”
Ahead of Sunday’s crunch clash, Healy gave his own take on the Limerick giant.
“He was a high emotional builder,” said the veteran prop. “Everyone has seen the old videos of his speeches.
“There’s not so much of that anymore. Now, it’s very technical and calm-headed but you do have the little chats to spark that fire.
“Once it’s sparked and ready, you leave it go and the rest of it has to be cool-headed about the job in hand, making sure everything’s on song.” Healy loved playing alongside O’connell in Ireland packs – as long as things ran smoothly.
“He was very approachable, laughing and giggling and all that,” said the 32-year-old (left).
“But if you messed up in lineouts there was a death stare. That’s the worst.
“At the last World Cup (2015) I messed up three in a row during training, I got the death stare – and then I had a panic attack!”
It’s that intensity that Healy has observed some of his younger colleagues tapping into this week.
“It’s great having him here for some who haven’t played with him and who wouldn’t understand what he brought.
“That’s what lads are doing, picking his brains a bit.
“He’s one of the foremen of what it means to be Irish, the way he played and held himself.
“You can see a lot of how he played in the way James Ryan is