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The verdict on Furlong, the Lions' second-most regular Test starter
Ken Owens has hailed the improved 2021 Lions contribution of Tadhg Furlong, the tighthead who is poised for his sixth consecutive Test start in the famous red jersey this Saturday, a selection consistency that only Alun Wyn Jones, the veteran skipper who is starting his ninth consecutive Lions Test, can eclipse in Warren Gatland’s latest starting XV.
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Owens was part of the 2017 Lions tour to New Zealand, coming off the bench in two of the Test games versus the All Blacks where Furlong was an ever-present as the starting tighthead.
The Irishman has reprised that role four years later, owning the No3 jersey in this latest three-game Test series in South Africa, and Owens, a sub in the opening two games versus the Springboks, will now get to pack down with Furlong in the starting front row after finally earning the No2 jersey.
“Tadhg is an absolute world-class front row forward,” reckoned Owens, the 34-year-old veteran of 82 Wales caps. “Scrummaging-wise he knows exactly what he wants from me as a hooker and what he needs and the work he does off the field is just unbelievable.
“The detail he goes into to make sure the scrummaging is spot on, what he expects from the hooker, loosehead, flanker – that rubs off on you. He is the anchor of the scrum and he leaves you in no doubt what he expects from you.
New Lions starting hooker Ken Owens has highlighted a left-field reason why the tourists are set to clinch the series versus the Springboks#LionsRugby #RSAvsBIL #CastleLionsSeries
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 5, 2021
“He has gone up a level from four years definitely with his experience around the place. What he has added to his game especially is not just his scrummaging, it’s his knowledge of maul work, the contact area, carrying, he is definitely an all-round player now and not just the scrummaging threat that was seen (back then). He definitely has added a lot more to his game from four years ago.”
A win on Saturday versus South Africa will see Warren Gatland go down in history as arguably the greatest Lions coach of all time following his 2013 series triumph over the Wallabies and the 2017 draw with the All Blacks. His immense influence in the lead-up to this Saturday’s series decider in Cape Town hasn’t been lost on Owens.
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“He [Gatland] is pretty calm. He just knows how to get the best out of the players whether it is a small conversation here or there, steps in when he needs to, prompts boys when he needs to and he is just very calm and knows how to get the best out of each individual.
“He has been at his best with that this week. You can just sense the confidence and the experience he brings by the way he enters team meetings or he talks. It’s just that huge experience that he has got is just right around the place at the moment.”
"The coaches are reasonable enough, they are not going to ask you for miracles"
– The regular tighthead played at loosehead last weekend for the first time since 2016 #CastleLionsSeries #LionsTour2021 #LionsRugbyhttps://t.co/oZPHShSMUI
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 5, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
I've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
7 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
43 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
7 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
7 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
7 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
7 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
7 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to comments