Six years and counting at the top of his game.
For anyone looking at the raw statistics, in months and years to come, they may think Tadhg Furlong had a solid if unspectacular game against Wales.
Five carries made for four metres, seven tackles made, one missed and part of seven scrums won off the Irish feed. Just a shade under 25 ruck involvements too, as Ireland won 29-7 at a canter. All more than respectable numbers for a modern tighthead.
Furlong’s passing, and him showing as a pass threat even when he was just throwing shapes, are what has made him such a handful for opposition teams. The Leinster prop showed up in a couple of rapid Ireland attacks and drew in defenders with his slick handling:
I will never not enjoy watching Tadhg Furlong play rugby#IREvWAL #SixNations pic.twitter.com/PZXcE2E3W9
— EK Rugby Analysis (@ek_rugby) February 5, 2022
Tadhg Furlong in world’s ‘top two’
When Ronan O’Gara travelled from Racing 92 for a coaching stint with Crusaders, in New Zealand, his biggest learning was how comfortable entire squads had to be with ball-handling.
“Passing forwards make space,” he was told. It soon became his mantra and he has clearly taken that back to his La Rochelle side, bringing them to Top 14 and Champions Cup final by shifting points of attack and getting backs and forwards inter-changing roles.
The template that for so long was forged in New Zealand has been taken on a notch by Furlong. The Wexford native is now the standard-bearer for forwards in the world game, along with Michael Hooper of Australia.
He is the player other clubs and nations look at and ask how they can produce similar on their end. Not since Brian O’Driscoll have we seen an Irish player held in such high acclaim, worldwide, for a sustained period. Conor Murray (2012 to 2018) deserves a mention, too, although he was dicing with Aaron Smith for the world’s best tag.
On the latest House of Rugby, former Leinster and Ireland star Denis Hickie declared, “Tadhg Furlong is right up there. Himself and Antoine Dupont are the two best in the world, right now.”
Confidence is flowing through Furlong’s veins ever since he made his comeback from a spell on the sidelines in early 2021. He rolled into the Lions Tour, performed manfully in that and then took the fight to the All Blacks, in November, when Ireland rumbled them.
Teaming up with Rónan Kelleher and the re-constituted loosehead Andrew Porter, Furlong is part of a world-leading front row.
Tadhg Furlong’s rallying call
Against Wales, as Ireland started their Six Nations campaign with a bonus point win, Furlong was caught on referee Jaco Peyper’s microphone on a few occasions. He is not constantly chattering out on the pitch, but he was in to cheerlead as Kelleher forced a Louis Rees-Zammit forward pass and James Ryan lit into Dan Biggar.
At one stage, in the first half, Furlong had a bit of fun with his old Lions teammate, Wales loosehead Wyn Jones. After a scrum was re-set, both lads protested to Peyper that they were not in the wrong:
WYN JONES: “I’m good to go, then he goes down”
TADHG FURLONG: “I’m going forward, so it must be you!”
One Furlong rallying call, just before half-time, perfectly captured where this Ireland team are at, right now. The Welsh were trying to break out of their half but hit a green wall. Another turnover won by the home side.
With Welsh shoulders sagging, Ireland’s No.3 took in a big suck of air and turned to his pack-mates:
“Let’s ****ing talk ourselves up a bit!”
Ireland were on top, and had been for most of the half. Furlong wanted the Welsh to know all about it.
Wales survived the final dregs of the half and were grateful for Peyper’s whistle. They headed to the changing rooms only 10-0 down.
12 minutes into the second half, though, and it was game over. Two Andrew Conway tries signalled Wales’ race was run.
The biggest signal that Ireland had the game was in the bag came, right after Conway’s second try, when Andy Farrell gave the signal. The first two men called off, to rest up for France, next week, were Tadhg Furlong and Jack Conan.
Job done.
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