Andrew Porter says veteran mentor Cian Healy remains a ‘huge asset’ for Ireland

Ireland prop Andrew Porter believes veteran mentor Cian Healy remains a “huge asset” at international level following his record-equalling outing against Argentina.

Healy moved alongside Brian O’Driscoll as his country’s joint most-capped player after replacing fellow Leinster loosehead Porter for the final 13 minutes of Friday evening’s nervy 22-19 win in Dublin.

The 37-year-old, who made the first of his 133 Test appearances exactly 15 years earlier and is nicknamed ‘Church’ by team-mates, received a rapturous reception from the Aviva Stadium crowd, including O’Driscoll, who was in the stands working as a pundit.

He will almost certainly claim the outright record during the next fortnight as Andy Farrell’s side conclude their autumn campaign by hosting Fiji and Australia.

“When I first came in, Churchy was the best – still is, I’d argue – loosehead in the world,” said Porter.

“I owe a lot to him in my own development. He took me under his wing and showed me the ropes.

“He’s definitely a unique character. I don’t think you have too many people who can play all positions across the front row, and he can do them quite well as well.

“He’s a huge asset to both Leinster and Ireland and he’ll continue to be, it’s not his last game.

“He’s a great fella and it’s great to be able to share the day with him and hopefully he can push that on and add a few more to it.”

While the long-serving Healy wrote his name into the history books, there were landmark appearances for Leinster rookies Thomas Clarkson and Sam Prendergast at the other end of the spectrum.

Prop Clarkson, 24, made his Ireland debut as a temporary first-half replacement after Finlay Bealham was sin binned before returning in the second period, while 21-year-old