Conjoined at club and country, Jack McGrath and Cian Healy, two loosehead props, continue to vie for pre-eminence at Leinster and Ireland in overlapping career spans. The last occasion was against Argentina in November last year when McGrath wasn’t involved. Healy is one of 16 players that will remain at Carton House, while McGrath will have Munster’s Dave Kilcoyne for company in Chicago. An injury meant a delayed start to the season for McGrath at Leinster, and Healy consolidated his position as first choice from the double-winning team last season. McGrath, if chosen to start on Saturday, gets the first crack and for now that is all he can control.

Source: The Irish Times October 30, 2018 06:00 UTC