Cian Healy: Success and trophies drive me on, not caps

Cian Healy has never loved having the spotlight shone on him, but on Saturday he was powerless to stop others from pushing him front and centre.

Before and after Saturday's 22-19 win against Australia, the IRFU were sure to remind people that the day was as much about him as it was about their own 150th anniversary celebrations.

Fronting the matchday programme, Healy was last out on to the pitch at Aviva Stadium on Saturday, walking hand in hand with his sons Beau and Russell, and after the game, the 37-year-old was presented with his record 134th Irish cap by IRFU President Declan Madden.

"I got a vibe from the roar alright, it perked me up a little bit," Healy said of the ovation when he came on as a second-half replacement for Andrew Porter, although he admits he never even noticed the bars of Hozier’s song 'Take me to Church’, which played out in the stadium as a tribute to his nickname.

"I guessed during the week what my thoughts would be, whether it's a lineout or scrum and I was right, so in for a scrum and hanker down on what I had to do there, but it was a nice moment. I enjoyed it."

It’s important to put Healy’s 134 caps into context. Not only has the Leinster man played more times for Ireland than any other player, only seven men have more international appearances in the game. The only prop who has played more times in Test rugby, James Slipper, just happened to be starting for the Wallabies on Saturday afternoon.

While the veteran prop has hinted this 18th season of professional rugby will likely be his last, he has made it clear he wants to be involved in the Six Nations, with his sights set on winning a sixth championship.

"I’m not driven by the number of caps. It is not something that pushes me on.

"Winning, and