Tadhg targets a Grand Slam
History beckons for Furlong
TADHG FURLONG is on the brink of becoming just the second Wexford player to be part of an Ireland Grand Slam team.
The Horeswood native and former New Ross player returned to the Irish side for their 28-8 pummelling of Scotland in the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, having missed out on the Welsh victory with a hamstring injury.
Now recognised as one of the top tighthead props in the world, Furlong brought a real solidity to the Irish scrum as they continually pressured the Scottish eight in the tight.
His remarkable workload about the pitch was also very evident, getting in the tackles, while also making the hard yards with ball in hand.
Furlong now looks ahead to St. Patrick’s Day when he can join Gordon D’Arcy in the record books by being part of a Grand Slam celebration should they see off the English challenge.
Saturday’s win propelled them to second in the World Cup rankings and a record for consecutive wins for an Irish team.
The Grand Slam beckons, a chance to join the men of 1948 and 2009, and women of 2013, in the most elite club in Irish rugby’s history books. Winning in London never comes easy to Irish teams, and their last success was a Tommy Bowe-inspired victory in 2010.
Ireland have now teed up a Grand Slam with England standing in their way. They will take something really important into this game, as they are the side playing with real confidence, whereas England are coming off the back of successive defeats to Scotland and France.
Should Ireland take the Grand Slam, St. Patrick’s Day will never the same for Tadhg, Horeswood parish and New Ross Rugby Club.
Meanwhile, Enniscorthy’s Josh Murphy is continuing his progress through the Leinster set-up and played an influential role in their 10-10 away draw with second-placed Scarlets in Wales on Friday night. Scarlets snatched a draw with a late penalty but Leinster maintain their place at the top of the PRO10 League.
Ireland’s ladies lost to Scotland for the first time in the Six Nations when going under to a 15-12 defeat in Donnybrook on Saturday.
While defeat was their lot, former Wexford Vixens player, Katie Fitzhenry, emerged from the game with her reputation enhanced as one of Ireland’s best backs.
Solid with her defending duties, Fitzhenry got in some huge hits during the course of the 80 minute.
Her first-half display was marked by a terrific line break out of defence, but the move fell flat through lack of support when a try beckoned.
Ireland have lost their opportunity of the Triple Crown and will end their campaign away to England this weekend.