Video - Furlong hails impact of ‘big cheese’
Tadhg Furlong will be making his 20th cap for Ireland when they line up against France in the Natwest 6 Nations on Saturday.
The Leinster man has squeezed a lot into a short space of time. He made his debut against Wales in a warm up ahead of the 2015 Rugby World Cup and was subsequently selected in the squad, playing against Romania at Wembley. A 6 Nations debut followed the next year and he started the historic win over New Zealand in Chicago. 2017 saw his upward trajectory continue, he started every 6 Nations match and was then the Test tighthead for the British & Irish Lions against the All Blacks.
Such pedigree makes the 25-year-old well able to assess the up-and-coming talent breaking through. His clubmate James Ryan will pack down behind him in the second row against France, picking up his fifth cap and Furlong is hugely impressed with the man he calls ‘the big cheese’.
“He’s obviously a physically big man and very athletic as well, so the thing with James is when he is in the scrum behind you he is quite athletic, so he can hold his shape and form behind you and transfer good weight and he’s very eager.”
“I think he’s a really, really good rugby player. He is humble enough to ask you ‘is there anything I can do better’, or ‘is there anything I can tweak to make your life easier as a prop’. For a tighthead it is really good to see that sort of enthusiasm around scrums from him.”
Furlong a fan of ‘the big cheese’
Furlong admits to being “naïve” the last time he faced France in Paris and feels more prepared for what he’ll face.
“You go back and look at those clips from there and you look at where you are now – you can see a definite progression. You always refer back to the last time you played there, but as well it’s nice to be able to say you think you’re going a bit better now than you were back then.”
But he’s expecting another physical test against a robust French pack.
“When you think of France and their game, their forward pack and their scrum, the maul, the lineout, it’s areas of the game where they are massively passionate about. Trying to face up to that, especially at home, is a huge challenge.”
Johnny Sexton was a man who received some brutal treatment at the hands of the French in 2016, however Furlong isn’t worried about it going into Saturday’s match.
“Johnny is a big enough boy, he can protect himself. As a forward pack, especially off the lineout when they are attacking into that ten channel, forwards can help out there and if we can manage to get front foot ball in the scrum, or the right side up, our flanker can help him as well off set plays. Knowing Johnny, he is well able to stand up for himself.”
Schmidt sends clear message to referee on targeting of Sexton
Josh van der Flier will be one person who be tasked with keeping an eye on Sexton. He recently set a Pro 14 record for the number of tackles in a game – an impressive 34 against Connacht at the start of January.
“He is able to do it again and again and again. Obviously the tackle count for that game was ridiculously high, but he still tops the tackle count week on week and his work rate and his ability to get off the floor and make double and triple efforts is quite exceptional.”
Van der Flier breaks Pro 14 tackle count record against Connacht
Ireland will need more of the same from van der Flier and others if they’re to make a winning start to this years 6 Nations. Success in Paris would nicely set up a run of three home matches, as they look to end England’s reign as champions.
Comments on RugbyPass
The 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
4 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.
4 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
4 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.
4 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 commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to comments