Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
TADHG ERRS SORTED OUT BY LIONS
Furlong feels New Zealand tour was making of him
TADHG FURLONG turned 26 yesterday and claimed his best is still to come.
It’s a frightening prospect for his rivals – just how good can the Wexford man become?
Already he’s one of the world’s best tightheads, if not the best.
A big performance against the All Blacks on Saturday will further cement a reputation enhanced by his three impressive Test shifts for the Lions in New Zealand two summers ago.
For the man himself, that tour was crucial to his development.
“Confidence-wise as much as anything, that helped,” he said.
“Being exposed to different players, different coaches, different voices, different environments... that was a massive thing for me.
“The other thing that’s helped me is lack of injuries. Touch wood, I’ve been blessed. I’ve had no really long-term injuries, being out of the game, for the last three or four years.”
As such, he believes his prime is still ahead of him.
“I think it is,” he said. “Before I play a team, I like to look back at the last three or four times I would have played against them, watch clips.
“And some of those clips from 2016, you’re like: ‘Jesus, what was I doing there?’, or ‘You’re sloppy there, slow to react’.
“And sometimes it works the other way. You think, ‘That was really good’. You can add that back into your game again.
“As a player, I’m a lot more comfortable in the environment, I’m definitely a lot more comfortable around the field. I’ve definitely improved a lot since then.”
So does he aim to be the world’s best in his position?
“How do you measure it? There are so many different ways to play the game,” he reasoned. “The thing you want to do as a rugby player is to help the lads around you and you want to be honest and truthful with yourself – just work as hard as you can. Wherever that brings you, that brings you.
“Scrum, as a tighthead, it’s your bread and butter and I mightn’t be the flashiest scrummager or mightn’t be the most dominating scrummager at times.
“But I feel like I can do a job there and it’s a massive test for me this weekend.
“The All Blacks have a mystique and aura about them and when you’re looking from the outside, lads talk about playing against them – but you don’t really understand what it’s like until you’re in there.
“Now there’s probably a greater understanding of what it’s like to play against them – and what’s required to try to be successful.” Furlong is one of a rare breed in that he has beaten the All Blacks twice – once with Ireland and once with the Lions.
In total, he has played against the world champions on five occasions and banked two wins, two losses and a draw. Not bad going.
His eyes lighting up, he can’t wait for the next chapter.
“You nearly get giddy and excited thinking about the later kick-off, the occasion, the Aviva,” Furlong said.
“When you’re leaving the Shelbourne it’s mental there and on the bus you just see green, and then into the stadium... the buzz for those night-time kick-offs is electric.
“It’s unbelievable for a player to play in.”