A YEAR IS a long time in any walk of life, but in sport it feels like an eternity. Just ask Tadhg Furlong.
This weekend twelve months ago, the Leinster prop — now widely-considered as one of the best in Europe and a potential tourist with the Lions — was preparing for a first European start.
With the province having endured a disastrous campaign to that point, losing all four games, Leo Cullen was afforded the chance to blood a young side against Bath in-front of the RDS.
Garry Ringrose, Luke McGrath, Peter Dooley, James Tracy, Ross Molony and Furlong all started that day as Leinster thrilled the home crowd en route to a 25-11 victory. The rest, you could say, is history.
Four of those players are now full internationals and Leinster are standing on the brink of a return to the Champions Cup quarter-finals. As for Furlong, his career has been on an upward trajectory ever since.
The 24-year-old has developed into an outstanding operator at tighthead and his performances on the international stage in 2016 elevated his stature to a new level.
Sean Cronin celebrates his try against Bath last year. Billy Stickland / INPHO
Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
He was superb against the All Blacks in Chicago and backed that performance up with similarly impressive displays in the return fixture and the victory over the Wallabies.
His ascent to the lofty heights he now finds himself may have seemed like a rapid rise but Furlong has been ‘trucking away’ in the background for some time, gradually strengthening his game and working hard to become the player he is now.
“It’s hard to put a finger on it but just a run of games and minutes under your belt to keep your match sharpness up,” Furlong said of his outstanding form.
“I suppose getting that experience in big games and in the jersey and it’s just the confidence of playing week in, week out.”
Furlong has plenty of experience of the big games at international level but tonight’s clash with Montpellier (KO 7.45pm, live on Sky Sports 2) is arguably the biggest of his career in a blue jersey.
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The stakes couldn’t be any higher for the hosts, with victory assuring them of progression through to the knock-out stages. Some form of redemption for last season.
“It’s a huge week for the club, they’re a quality team with quality players,” Furlong continued.
“It’s a chance for us to book a quarter-final spot if we win and a chance to right a few wrongs from the game over there as well. It’s a huge game for us and one we’re really looking forward to.
Furlong leads from the front in training earlier in the week. Donall Farmer / INPHO
Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO
“It would be huge if we could get through, it was disappointing last year. There’s a lot of young fellas like myself that got a first start last year against Bath and we definitely learned a lot from the campaign.
“There were a lot of young lads in the squad with points to prove, and there’s a lot of us in there with no medals. I know a lot of lads have medals as well but there’s a few young fellas in there without medals like myself. We’re hungry and want to contribute to the success of the club.”
Success is still along way away for this Leinster side but the younger generation have been at the centre of this exciting renewal under Cullen.
Three wins from the opening four games in Pool 4 has left the three-time European champions in control of their destiny and knowing two wins from their remaining games would secure an all-important home quarter-final.
There is no downplaying the size or scale of that challenge, particularly with Top 14 heavyweights in town, but there is a real buzz around the club at present, an atmosphere engendered by big Pro12 victories over Ulster and Zebre.
“Leinster have a proud history in the tournament and not to get out of the group was disappointing and players took that personally last year,” he added.
Leinster can secure a quarter-final berth tonight. Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
“But there’s a really good buzz around the place, confidence is high and a lot of the young lads coming through the Academy have put heat on to perform. That competition drives performances out of us and I think we’re going to need a big one to be competitive against Montpellier.
“It’s exciting times for us.”
Leinster:
15. Isa Nacewa (Captain)
14. Adam Byrne
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. Rory O’Loughlin
10. Johnny Sexton
9. Luke McGrath
1. Jack McGrath
2. James Tracy
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Devin Toner
5. Hayden Triggs
6. Jack Conan
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Jamie Heaslip
Replacements:
16. Richardt Strauss
17. Cian Healy
18. Michael Bent
19. Ross Molony
20. Dan Leavy
21. Jamison Gibson-Park
22. Ross Byrne
23. Rob Kearney
Montpellier:
15. Joffrey Michel
14. Timoci Nagusa
13. Vincent Martin
12. Joe Tomane
11. Nemani Nadolo
10. François Steyn
9. Nic White
1. Mikheil Nariashvili
2. Shalva Mamukashvili
3. Jannie Du Plessis
4. Paul Willemse
5. Konstantine Mikautadze
6. Fulgence Ouedraogo
7. Akapusi Quera (captain)
8. Pierre Spies
Replacements:
16. Charles Geli
17. Yvan Watremez
18. Davit Kubriashvili
19. Antoine Battut
20. Kelian Galletier
21. Tomás O’Leary
22. Henry Immelman
23. Jesse Mogg
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'There's a lot of us with no medals. We're hungry and want to contribute to the success of the club'
A YEAR IS a long time in any walk of life, but in sport it feels like an eternity. Just ask Tadhg Furlong.
This weekend twelve months ago, the Leinster prop — now widely-considered as one of the best in Europe and a potential tourist with the Lions — was preparing for a first European start.
With the province having endured a disastrous campaign to that point, losing all four games, Leo Cullen was afforded the chance to blood a young side against Bath in-front of the RDS.
Garry Ringrose, Luke McGrath, Peter Dooley, James Tracy, Ross Molony and Furlong all started that day as Leinster thrilled the home crowd en route to a 25-11 victory. The rest, you could say, is history.
Four of those players are now full internationals and Leinster are standing on the brink of a return to the Champions Cup quarter-finals. As for Furlong, his career has been on an upward trajectory ever since.
The 24-year-old has developed into an outstanding operator at tighthead and his performances on the international stage in 2016 elevated his stature to a new level.
He was superb against the All Blacks in Chicago and backed that performance up with similarly impressive displays in the return fixture and the victory over the Wallabies.
His ascent to the lofty heights he now finds himself may have seemed like a rapid rise but Furlong has been ‘trucking away’ in the background for some time, gradually strengthening his game and working hard to become the player he is now.
“It’s hard to put a finger on it but just a run of games and minutes under your belt to keep your match sharpness up,” Furlong said of his outstanding form.
Furlong has plenty of experience of the big games at international level but tonight’s clash with Montpellier (KO 7.45pm, live on Sky Sports 2) is arguably the biggest of his career in a blue jersey.
The stakes couldn’t be any higher for the hosts, with victory assuring them of progression through to the knock-out stages. Some form of redemption for last season.
“It’s a huge week for the club, they’re a quality team with quality players,” Furlong continued.
“It’s a chance for us to book a quarter-final spot if we win and a chance to right a few wrongs from the game over there as well. It’s a huge game for us and one we’re really looking forward to.
“It would be huge if we could get through, it was disappointing last year. There’s a lot of young fellas like myself that got a first start last year against Bath and we definitely learned a lot from the campaign.
“There were a lot of young lads in the squad with points to prove, and there’s a lot of us in there with no medals. I know a lot of lads have medals as well but there’s a few young fellas in there without medals like myself. We’re hungry and want to contribute to the success of the club.”
Success is still along way away for this Leinster side but the younger generation have been at the centre of this exciting renewal under Cullen.
Three wins from the opening four games in Pool 4 has left the three-time European champions in control of their destiny and knowing two wins from their remaining games would secure an all-important home quarter-final.
There is no downplaying the size or scale of that challenge, particularly with Top 14 heavyweights in town, but there is a real buzz around the club at present, an atmosphere engendered by big Pro12 victories over Ulster and Zebre.
“Leinster have a proud history in the tournament and not to get out of the group was disappointing and players took that personally last year,” he added.
“But there’s a really good buzz around the place, confidence is high and a lot of the young lads coming through the Academy have put heat on to perform. That competition drives performances out of us and I think we’re going to need a big one to be competitive against Montpellier.
“It’s exciting times for us.”
Leinster:
15. Isa Nacewa (Captain)
14. Adam Byrne
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. Rory O’Loughlin
10. Johnny Sexton
9. Luke McGrath
1. Jack McGrath
2. James Tracy
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Devin Toner
5. Hayden Triggs
6. Jack Conan
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Jamie Heaslip
Replacements:
16. Richardt Strauss
17. Cian Healy
18. Michael Bent
19. Ross Molony
20. Dan Leavy
21. Jamison Gibson-Park
22. Ross Byrne
23. Rob Kearney
Montpellier:
15. Joffrey Michel
14. Timoci Nagusa
13. Vincent Martin
12. Joe Tomane
11. Nemani Nadolo
10. François Steyn
9. Nic White
1. Mikheil Nariashvili
2. Shalva Mamukashvili
3. Jannie Du Plessis
4. Paul Willemse
5. Konstantine Mikautadze
6. Fulgence Ouedraogo
7. Akapusi Quera (captain)
8. Pierre Spies
Replacements:
16. Charles Geli
17. Yvan Watremez
18. Davit Kubriashvili
19. Antoine Battut
20. Kelian Galletier
21. Tomás O’Leary
22. Henry Immelman
23. Jesse Mogg
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