Connacht’s Matt Healy announces himself on big stage

"Qui est l'arrière?" At half-time and full-time, Grenoble supporters and French journalists in the press alike wanted to know who the hell is this Connacht fullback? Why hasn't he played for Ireland? They could scarcely believe it was only the second time in his career that Matt Healy had worn the number 15 shirt.

It had been the same in the home dressingroom according to their coach Bernard Jackman. “All of our French players were saying ‘who’s that guy, Matt Healy?’ He hasn’t played much at fullback, and we said potentially we could target that. He targeted us.”

Jackman also recalled coaching Healy in their days together at DCU. “He was scoring three or four tries a game. But, he was a guy who was lost, outside the system and now he’s a key man. He was brilliant.

‘College lads’

“He was a scrumhalf or wing, but it was Wednesday rugby in college lads he was playing against were probably hungover and he was electric.

“What I like is that there are guys like Niyi (Adeolokun) as well, guys who were out of the system and now they’re viable candidates at some stage to become Ireland players.”

That Healy himself was nonetheless still subdued in the aftermath of the game betrayed the overriding sense that this was one that got away, that ultimately their four tries and 32 points still weren’t good enough to earn that coveted home semi-final against Harlequins.

“It’s massively, massively disappointing, especially considering that’s the second year in a row we have lost in that fashion,” said Healy, in relation to the 14-7 quarter-final defeat away to Gloucester at the same stage 12 months ago. “It’s a hard pill to swallow, but the lads have already talked about picking themselves back up for a massive game next week.”

To that end, it was interesting to wonder what Munster will have made of Connacht's gung-ho approach. "What we saw out there is not hugely different to what people have been seeing all season," maintained Healy. "We try and play an expansive game, and we try heads-up rugby. That's exactly how we played tonight, we just coughed the ball up in certain areas. We are going to have to tighten up on that, and they are things we are going to have to work on this week."

“We will have to process it. In fairness we have spoken already about the positives we took from the game. We played some really good stuff and obviously we lost by a point, but they are the positives we can take into next week.”

Healy was the orchestrator-in-chief of the two tries finished off by Adeolokun, giving both try-scoring passes after slicing through the Grenoble defence, as well as Robbie Henshaw’s try from Shame O’Leary’s crosskick which originated from his daring counter attack.

Healy then finished off their second-half try himself when skinning Gio Aplon. In all, he carried for 123 metres (in just six carries), beat four defenders and accounted for four of Connacht’s 11 line breaks.

Healy appeared to enjoy the greater attacking freedom afforded him from fullback. “It’s a lot of running,” he said. “Our structures, and those sort of processes, can open any team. And we have been doing it all season. I had a little bit more space at fullback. I enjoyed it.”

Different questions

Pat Lam’s bold selection had been vindicated and as to whether he could be employed there again, Healy said calmly: “Yeh maybe, I am ready to play wherever. So I will leave that up to Pat.”

He was beaten in the air a couple of times, but his positional play was good and, although asked different questions defensively, he said: “I don’t know if it is harder to defend. It is a little bit different in terms of positions and stuff. It’s just working with wingers, left and right wing. Working that way.”

It was the late developing 27-year-old’s 12th try in 22 games this season, to go with 11 last season, and adding another string to his bow by showcasing his electric speed at fullback can only be beneficial to him and his coaches. “I suppose. It wouldn’t be my primary thought. I just focus on performing well for Connacht and wherever that position might be I will take it.”

Having been called into the Irish squad for a day in the final week of the Six Nations, even so Saturday's display ought to enhance his chances of being called into the Ireland squad for the tour to South Africa.

“I certainly hope so. There are definitely a few things that I need to work on. Consistency being one, I said that from day one. I need to brush up on a few things. Hopefully if I address them. Again performing consistently, performing consistently well, hopefully that call comes.”

More of this and it’s hard to see how he can be ignored.