Joe Schmidt: Australia coach will feel ’emotion’ when Wallabies face his former Ireland side
Schmidt paid tribute to another of his former Leinster and Ireland players, 37-year-old Cian Healy, who will replace Brian O’Driscoll as Ireland’s record cap holder on Saturday. This was his 134th appearance on the bench for the national team in the final game of the country’s autumn series.
“He’s outstanding. He’s a physical specimen. Kind of like Andrew Porter. Both of those guys, you’ve got to do everything you can to lock them out of the gym.”
“(But) when I first came to Leinster, Sheahan was very agile and full of energy,” added the Wallabies, who recalled Healy being convinced he could play Leinster in the 2012 Heineken Cup semi-final. Lemon-Auvergne completed the defender action in the game. 2012.
“The pass from Richard Strauss went to Rob Kearney and Sheehan was on his shoulder trying to get past him. That’s the kind of athlete he is.
“He’s lethal at the free throw line. Opponents can’t stop him and we can’t take the ball away from him.”
If Healy does play, he is likely to find himself up against fellow player James Slipper, who became the Wallabies’ record holder when he made his 140th appearance in September.
“Maybe there’s something to be said for the loose props. They know how to get longevity. With Slips and Cian Healy playing at the weekend, I’m pretty sure we’ll catch up later and those two will share something to rehydrate,” The Australian coach smiled.
