YOKO OUR FINAL FURLONG NEEDS FULL FOCUS
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THE safety net is gone but Tadhg Furlong is certain Ireland’s show must go on as normal.
Losing to Japan means there is no room for a second slip-up if Joe Schmidt’s charges are serious about making World Cup history.
That starts with the game against Samoa on Saturday,
Ireland wanting a winning bonus point to ensure they do not have to rely on the result of the final pool encounter between the tournament hosts and Scotland a day later – if the weather allows.
But Furlong claims the last thing they need is to go chasing a result and a performance.
“You can’t over-force it,” the 26-year-old Leinster prop admitted. “You don’t get away from what worked for you in the past or the normal routine. You don’t go rewriting the book.”
The level of intensity simply must go up this weekend from what was produced against Japan and Russia.
But Furlong added: “It’s about what standard you hold yourself accountable to. It feels like it’s very, very nearly there but probably just hasn’t clicked yet. It’s hard to put your finger on it.
“You try to hold on to the ball a little bit better, go through a few more phases, get
Ireland Samoa Pool A, Saturday 11.45am
JOSH ADAMS’ hat-trick booked Wales a quarter-final place after victory against Fiji, but the satisfaction at reaching the knockout stages was tempered by injuries to two of their frontline backs.
Stand-off Dan Biggar will be assessed by an independent doctor, in keeping with tournament regulations, after being knocked out in an aerial collision with team-mate on to the front foot… when we play well, we can be really clinical. We hold on to the ball really well and just don’t force it, it’s knuckle down and stick to what you’re good at and be very efficient at it. Playing rugby at World Cups is tough.”
A World Cup bolter in 2015, Furlong only played 25 minutes in that tournament but he now has enough experience to know
Ireland have to be switched on for Samoa’s final assault at this World Cup.
After two defeats from three games the Pacific Islanders have spoken about going out with all guns blazing.
“They’re big boys and quite impressive in the tight,” Furlong said. “They’ve a fair bit of flair out wide and dangerous runners if they get it to them. It’s going to be a massive challenge for us.”
Meanwhile, Furlong enjoyed a few days off with a slap up meal at their Fukuoka base.
He grinned: “I went to a really good steak restaurant - Japanese food is lovely but it’s nice to get a nice bit of steak as well. It was top notch, a tiny little place. It reminds me of The Butcher’s Grill in Ranelagh. You go through the front door and stoop down to get into it.
“They cook up a load of Wagyu beef, bring out the board and cook it in front of you with an open fire. It’s lovely.”
Wales 29 Fiji 17
Liam Williams. He will miss Sunday’s final group game against Uruguay, which will determine whether Wales top the group.
And he must be a doubt to feature in the knockout stages. It was his second concussion in the space of 11 days. Centre Jonathan Davies will also have a knee injury examined today after he was hurt creating Adams’ 60th-minute hat-trick try.
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