Even for the gym-averse among us these Ireland workout videos are becoming required viewing.
We’re learning new phrases, such as “hexbar dead lift” and “banded step-ups” and, while it is unlikely we will ever give these exotic exercises a go, it’s good to know we can discuss them should the occasion arise.
The hexbar dead lift is what Cian Healy was performing in moody black and white yesterday.
John Kiely, the team’s assistant strength and conditioning coach, explains the thinking behind the loosehead prop lifting a frankly ridiculous amount of those heavy circular thingamajigs.
“It can be very useful for a lot of the lads. It allows you to grip the bar with a very different grip to a regular straight bar and gives you a bit of variety,” said Kiely.
“It’s the nature of the game now, it’s a tough sport, an attritional sport. Using tools like this just allows you to modify exercises to spare injured tissues and to more specifically load tissues that you want to load.”
Iain Henderson, like the rest of the squad, was in the gym at Celtic Manor yesterday, and his focus was on “banded steps-ups” which involved Jamie Heaslip, more weights and some large rubber bands.
“Jamie and I were working some banded step-ups, just trying to get some mobility and range back into our legs before we maybe get a little bit of rugby done later on.
“We use the gym not only for strength but also an awful lot of recovery and mobility as well.”
Just as well they have a day off after all that “recovery”.
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