I can’t be all coat & no knickers

TADHG WILL ALWAYS VALUE SUBSTANCE OVER STYLE

TADHG FURLONG has no notions about himself – but he admits Leinster are having a long look at their record in France this week.

Still only 25, Furlong is regarded as one of the best tighthead props in world rugby, if not the best.

Such a high standing comes on the back of his displays over the last two years, and in particular on the Lions tour of New Zealand.

Asked ahead of Saturday’s final Champions Cup pool game in Montpellier if he would put himself on that pedestal, the Wexford man quipped: “Best looking or best? Ten out of 10 for looks here... no, I’m kidding!

“Look, I personally wouldn’t view myself that way. You meet some people and they’d be naturally confident or bordering on arrogance.

“I wouldn’t see myself in that way. I’d question myself.

“I’d look at video and say to myself, ‘You need to do this better, that better, that better’ – then look at how I can.

“That’s where you get your extras to do. So, I would put pressure on myself.”

The Ireland star added: “You can look at other tightheads and think, ‘I might do that better than they would,’ or you might say, ‘They’d do that better than I would.’

“But if I think I do something well I’ve no problem in saying,

‘That was good.’

“I’m not that hard on myself.”

It’s only two years since Furlong was handed his first start in the No.3 jersey in Europe’s premier club competition. At the time Irish rugby wondered how Mike Ross would be replaced.

Furlong, one of six young guns handed starts against Bath that day, recalled: “That’s one of my best memories.

“I don’t think I’ve been so nervous or pent-up.

“Going against a strong Bath scrum and getting results with a really young front row... to see the progression since then as a team, it’s been really good.

“Stuart (Lancaster, inset) has added a massive amount.”

A home Champions Cup quarter-final is already banked but Furlong wants more.

“It’s three seasons since we won in France. It’s something that hasn’t historically gone well for us. That’s a big motivation. It would be easy to switch off but the player group certainly doesn’t feel like that.

“Playing in France is different because of the crowd, the atmosphere, they get behind their players and gee them up. It can feel a little bit intimidating.

“The challenge for us is can we deal with all those aspects. Can we deal with the extra hour on the flight, staying in a French hotel where the food might be a little bit different and playing against a really good side in a challenging atmosphere, and still perform?”