JACK BOYLE knew his Ireland debut was going to be okay after going to ‘Church.’
Loosehead Prop Boyle, 22, made his first Ireland appearance off the bench in Saturday’s Triple Crown clinching win over Wales.
The young Leinster star has been tipped to make the step up having progressed working with Andrew Porter and the veteran Cian ‘Church’ Healy.
He was just seven when his idol Healy won the first of his record 136 caps to date, and Boyle acknowledged the advice and support of ‘Church’ made it a nerveless debut.
He said: “There’s two unbelievable players and people ahead of me, Andrew Porter and Cian Healy.
“Cian Healy presented me with my cap, it was unbelievably special. I knew I’d have to bide my time, be patient.
“Cian Healy was always an idol obviously growing up and I suppose Johnny Sexton and Brian O’Driscoll.
“But getting my cap from Cian Healy was a surreal feeling. It was incredibly special.”
And ‘Church’ was on the sidelines at the Principality Stadium on Saturday as a member of the squad ready to offer advice.
It helped too as Boyle acknowledged that chats with Healy during the first half were the primer for how he won a penalty in the scrum during his nine minutes of action.
He said: “Me and ‘Church’ were having a few conversations on the sideline and thankfully his 20 years of experience and expertise came off.
“It was messy (in the scrum), they were kind of pre-engaging at times. Sometimes it was hitting the deck, putting it in the referee’s hands.
“We stuck to our progress, me and Finlay (Bealham) had that conversation at half time and thankfully it worked.”
Vastly experienced tighthead Bealham also came off the bench in the game and Boyle acknowledged having his knowhow alongside him and fellow sub Gus McCarthy helped.
But he also credited the currently injured Tadhg Furlong, as well as Leinster’s French man Rabah Slimani, for getting him ready in training at Leinster.
He added: “I suppose when I came into the set-up two or three years ago, it was not only ‘Church’ and Porter, but Tadhg Furlong as well.
“They’ve all been unbelievable people to me first and foremost; helping me off the pitch, making sure I have everything aligned so you can perform in training and perform if you get an opportunity.
“I was actually texting him (Slimani) during the week telling him I was on the bench and he was over the moon.
“We were rooming together over in Swansea last week against the Ospreys. He had his fingers crossed for me and thankfully it played out in the end.”
Now Boyle could face French tighthead Slimani on Saturday week in what could be the Championship decider at the Aviva Stadium.
He said: “We’ll see. It would be a bit of a surreal feeling considering we’ve won a few penalties together.”
But with Healy also pushing for inclusion, Boyle knows nothing is guaranteed though he knows he did himself no harm against Wales.
NO GUARANTEES
He said: “It’s a mix of respecting the lads ahead of you. ‘Church’ has obviously been an unbelievable player and servant, and Andrew Porter, one of the best in the world literally.
“So it’s a balance of learning off them but at the same time competing and putting your best foot forward to get a spot really.
“Any young lad in Ireland, in the position I was in anyway, strives to play for Ireland. So many people come up short, but I’m incredibly grateful and lucky to get there in the end.
“I just tried to prepare myself as best as possible for whatever minute I was going to be called upon. Luckily, I got on in the end and added a bit to the win in the end.
“It’s more so be yourself and enjoy the environment. Don’t be in yourself and don’t go into your shell. You need to express yourself as well.
“I know I need to keep improving, because they’re two unbelievable players ahead of me.
“It gives me a taster of what it’s like to play for Ireland, it only makes you hungry in the end.”
