Cian Healy's sumo secrets can unsettle the Scotland scrum
Cian Healy has geared up to neuter Scotland’s scrum in Sunday’s World Cup opener by taking tips from some of Tokyo’s top sumo wrestlers. Ireland loosehead Healy admitted one of the toughest challenges of the Yokohama battle will be to negate WP Nel’s “bombs”.
The Scotland tighthead is the linchpin of his side’s scrummage, leaving Healy well aware he must subdue the 33-year-old powerhouse. Healy and Ireland visited Tokyo’s Isegahama stable in midweek, the tourists granted rare access during sumo competition as a mark of respect.
Champion ozeki rank wrestler Terunofuji Haruo took time to talk to members of the Ireland squad, even wishing Joe Schmidt’s men luck for the challenge ahead. “It was class, I did that as well on the tour here in 2017,” said Healy. “And when it became an option this time I was urging the lads to do it because I was saying how good it was.
“Culturally it was one of the best things I did last time around, gaining an understanding of it that they are not just big lumps. The amount of training they put in, their flexibility, strength, power, everything. It was a really good experience to get that and chat to the lads afterwards. They were really open and good with us – they just wouldn’t let us stand down on the ring!
“They did wish us luck actually. The main man, he followed a few of us on Instagram and he was giving us a few direct messages and chatting to us. He was saying good luck and things. So there’s been a bit of chat and a bit of craic.”
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South Africa-born Nel is central to Scotland’s ambitions of a potent set-piece weapon, and Healy expects a tough examination this weekend. “They are a pretty strong scrum, they’ve been getting better and better. They’re a threat and Nel is a real cornerstone for them,” said Healy.
“So we’ll be dealing with a lot of his tactical scrummaging, the angles and things that he might be looking for. We’ve simulated a bit of that in a bid to plan for it but you can never plan somebody fully. So we’ve been working on ourselves as much as making plans to defuse their bombs.
“It’s bubbling over now, yeah. The move to Yokohama now has been a real eye-opener that it’s here. Joe (Schmidt) said it the other day about it becoming very real when the first team gets named. We’re ready to go now and start building in. We’ve put a lot of work and dedication into ploughing everything to getting into physical shape.
‘If something like that happens [Ireland reach the semis], that is the beauty of live television, the emotion would just come out of you’
– @TommyBowe tells @heagneyl about his giant leap from the pitch to @rugbyworldcup TV anchorman with @eirSport ?https://t.co/4vgFgGnxua— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 19, 2019
“I’ve always appreciated moments like this. But it’s probably more of an age thing, that makes you look deeper into it and probably look out for others a bit more. Certainly, I’m thankful for my position considering where I was a couple of years back, and it’s been a lovely road back to chasing fitness, getting there and enjoying doing it.
“So it’s about keeping chatting to the lads. I’d be focusing on grabbing lads one on one and working on little things and things like that.”
– Press Association
WATCH: RugbyPass on the ground in Japan before Friday’s World Cup opener in Tokyo
Comments on RugbyPass
It couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
25 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
25 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
44 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to comments