Healy's 'tricks' key to Ireland cap record - Doris

Cian Healy [left] will win a record 134th Ireland cap if he comes off the bench against Australia

Ireland captain Caelan Doris believes Cian Healy's caps record for the side is a "testament to how well" the 37-year-old has looked after himself throughout his career.

The loose-head prop drew level with Brian O'Driscoll on 133 Ireland appearances against Fiji this month and will set a new mark should he come off the bench against Australia at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

Healy made his international debut, also against Australia, in November 2009 with Doris, 26, remembering him "exploding onto the scene" 15 years ago.

"He's a great fella, very popular among the squad," said the Ireland skipper of his Leinster team-mate.

"It's funny, I've obviously watched him from not quite my primary school days, but early secondary school days and remember him exploding onto the scene and changing what it was to be a prop.

"He was so dynamic, some of his carries back then. We were actually watching some of his highlights during the week from his debut, against Australia funnily enough in Croke Park, but some of his carries were so explosive, stepping, skillset and his longevity has been unbelievable. Like, 134 caps is just wild."

Healy will become Ireland's most capped player despite suffering a number of serious injuries, including a knee problem that cut short his British and Irish Lions tour in 2013 and a neck complaint that threatened his career two years later.

"I think that's, in a large part, testament to how well he looks after himself," added Doris.

"I had the pleasure of rooming with him in Ireland for about four years and he's up to all sorts of tricks in terms of his recovery. Sometimes sleeping on the ground with his legs elevated, sleeping on acupressure mats, mindfulness and even all sorts of cold showers, loads of stretching. It's stood him in terms of his body and the ability to stay going at this age.

"He's very much his own man as well. People were saying during the week how he hasn't changed a whole lot since when he first came in. He's got his own unique and obscure hobbies and does his own thing off the pitch but, yeah, he's true to himself which is a good thing."

'There's a lot on the line'

Ireland's final game of 2024 is also the last before their head coach Andy Farrell takes a sabbatical to lead the Lions in Australia next summer.

After a disappointing showing against the All Blacks to start their November, they responded with a nervy and narrow victory over Argentina before a considerably more comfortable win against Fiji.

Doris feels Saturday's game will have a huge say in how their autumn is perceived.

"We're definitely aware what's at stake. It's a big game for us as well," he added.

"We've the chance to go three from four and improve our performance. I think a lot lies on this weekend in terms of the success of the autumn for us and how that's viewed in terms of how we get our performance right because last week was good, the first half was good against Argentina, but we weren't where we needed to be against the All Blacks.

"If we can show the progression in our performance this week, I think there's a lot on the line there."