First off, an apology.
In our player ratings, last night, we gave Tadhg Furlong 7/10. We were lit up for it on Facebook and, having looked back on the game, we can see why. Furlong was outstanding.
The Wexford native tore into the Australians last night, gave them hell at the scrum and bounded around looking for contacts, carries and clear-out action.
His latest tour-de-force, allied with two massive games against New Zealand, have us giddy in Ireland. We look to have found our tight-head for the next decade [we like to flog our tight-head props].
Such is the impact of Furlong on the Test arena that there has already been confident talk of him making the British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand next summer. That is coming from respected pundits, former Lions players and fervent fans.
Most agree that his name is definitely in the mix.
Still, it took an English rugby writer to get the question out in the open. The Times’ Alex Lowe bravely stepped up, after Ireland’s 27-24 win over the Wallabies, and asked Furlong what he has made of all the Lions speculation.
The prop’s response was right on the money. He said:
“It’s kind of daunting in a way, to be honest with you. Because you know, in a way, that ‘Jeez, my scrum wasn’t great there’ or ‘My entry wasn’t great and if I do this against a really great scrummaging pack, I’m going to be torn apart here’.
“That is your thought process. And, with people throwing that out, you get kind of embarrassed.
“You know the Lions is synonymous with such a big brand and so many great players have played there. Do I see myself there at the minute? No. I think I have a long journey to go and, as I said, I’ve only started four games for Ireland, two Heineken Cup games for Leinster and it is a big, big step to be making those shouts.”
Thankfully for us Furlong has his feet on the ground. That’s where we need them to be.
Let him get back to work. We’ll worry about the Lions for now.
Dick Clerkin makes his GAA Hour debut to talk about a wonderful career and argue passionately with Colm Parkinson over Sky Sports GAA. Subscribe here on iTunes.
