You live for games like this: Furlong
THE potential of a first ever win on home soil against the world champion All Blacks can be a huge motivating factor for Ireland this weekend, according to Leinster prop Tadhg Furlong.
Furlong was part of the side who claimed the historic first victory over New Zealand in Chicago two years ago, and indeed the rematch at the Aviva two weeks later.
For just how special that day in Soldier Field was, however, Joe Schmidt’s tighthead prop admits it would be a different feeling altogether to down them in Dublin on Saturday (7pm kickoff ) when they meet in their hotly anticipated Test match.
“As a player, it’s those sort of weeks that you love to be involved in, and the buzz around the place,” he said.
“It just brings that extra little bit out of you and I suppose it’s not a hard game to get up for.
“You know, you get to test yourself against the best team in the world and on your own home patch. It’s a game that, as a rugby player, you kind of live for in some ways.
“No Irish player ever has been (victorious in Dublin) so you probably think that’s a big motivating factor for the group. But it probably doesn’t take over your week either.
“There’s still a lot of boxes to tick and nuts to tighten to get the machine going.”
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