Murray Kinsella reports from Melbourne
WHILE TADHG FURLONG sometimes bulldozes his way to linebreaks, he doesn’t usually get the chance to burst into completely open field.
Running an excellent line off a superb Garry Ringrose pass in the first half of Ireland’s 26-21 win over the Wallabies in Melbourne, though, Furlong had the opportunity to do exactly that.
The Ireland tighthead could perhaps have done better in behind the defensive line and the passage will go down as a missed chance for Joe Schmidt’s side, but it was a thrilling moment for the thousands of Irish fans at AAMI Park.
It was also one part of a seriously impressive man-of-the-match performance by the 25-year-old, who continues to show why he is rated as being among the best front row players in world rugby.
Furlong carried powerfully against the Wallabies, barging through Nick Phipps’ tackle for Ireland’s crucial second try, and although he only had to make four tackles in defence, his work-rate was as high as ever.
The Irish scrum had a fine outing after the disappointment of conceding a key penalty late in the first Test and Furlong played a muscular role in that area, as well as with his usual strong lifting in the lineout.
“It must have been that spectacular dive to reach and get that try, I didn’t realise his arms were that long – he obviously wasn’t reaching into his pocket… but I thought he did incredibly well to reach out and score that try,” said Schmidt of Furlong’s man-of-the-match award.
“He scrummed well, his linebreak in the first-half – he got lonely, he was in so much space that he got a little bit confused but then he tried to throw this mountainous pass out to the edge which got intercepted.
“It’s not enough for Tadhg, he got it back then which was super play. Defensively, he worked really hard.
“He’s really deserving of that man-of-the-match award, there’s a few other guys like Pete [O'Mahony] beside me, Pete’s three turnovers were crucial and he’d a couple of really good ball carries, good lineout pressure that he provided.
“There’s James Ryan again, CJ Stander – that relentless energy that they bring to the side.
“There’s a host of guys that worked really hard tonight, but you have to. You just have to against a side of that calibre.”
It was a fine outing for Niall Scannell too, the Munster hooker having been handed a big opportunity in the number two shirt.
His set-piece work was strong and although he threw one loose offload to Wallabies captain Michael Hooper shortly before being replaced, he was otherwise excellent around the pitch and robust in contact.
“I thought our scrum was solid,” said Schmidt.”He’s probably our biggest scrummaging hooker and I thought he threw really well early on as well. It was a tough lineout for Rob Herring to come on and replace him, and he slightly underthrew that one close to the line and that was a frustration for us.
“But then for anyone who has had a good look at Rob’s game already, I thought his energy was huge. He got off the line and made tackles.
“So those two guys both did well I thought and to have Sean Cronin in reserve to potentially come into the reckoning next week is a real asset for us.
“I know we’ll look back at Niall’s game and he’ll look back at it, and we’ll try to forge a little bit of a pathway to progress a little bit further.”
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Peter o’mahoney was by far the best player on the field. Turnover after turnover he made. Tadgh did well but peter was a class apart
@Brian Jones: two superb players who both brilliantly; agree Pete may have shaded it
@Brian Jones: to be pedantic about it he made turnover after turnover after turnover. It’s in the article… he made 3 turnovers.
@Timmy O’Toole: *played
@Brian Jones: I’d say it was a close call. Probably Furlong playing for longer helped his case. I thought they were both amazing out there. Fair play to them all.
@Fergal O Lachtnain: 2 of which gave us 6pts in a game we won by 5. It’s not the amount, but the importance of them.
@Cormac Ó Braonáin: well furlong scores a try which gave us 7 points…
I love the Irish fans. Not happy when we win, we then have to claim the best player came from munster instead of Leinster or vice versa.
Anyway sexton was the big difference between this week and last.
@sup: you’re the first one here to mention Munster or Leinster so your projection won’t change the fact that even an RTÉ commentator could’ve told you this particular game was won in the backrow with the amount of breakdowns and turnovers there were.
Pure Wexford Beef.
@Kieran Campbell: he gets his strength from his mothers side, west cork beef!!!
@E Coughlan: chip
@Marcodub: wow it took you all day to get out from under your rock did it?
I knew some gimp would get upset by my joke, no surprise who it is do.
He’s some man for one man! Such a nice humble guy.
@Sam Harms: Best prop in world rugby and seems like a pretty decent human too.
Furlong was great, but I have to agree with most on here and say POM was MOTM. Lots of great performances out there today. Next week will be brilliant
Furlong has been Ireland’s best and most consistent performer for the last 18 months. Always gives 100% and solidifies the scrum every time he is on the field. He also brings another dimension in play
Sad thing it was great performance today by a host of players, a great win and instead of celebrating some people are still going on about Munster/Leinster. Get over yourselves lads. Furlong had a great game and so did POM. You think either of them care who got MOTM? Not all all.
@Eddie Hekenui: Im a connacht supporter, not a leinster or munster supporter. I see it as it is in connacht very well, so i undetstand quality when i see it no matter the province
What!? POM didn’t get it? Jaysus!
@Cormac Ó Braonáin: cause Furlong was better
@Marcodub: is that you, Reggie?
I hope our team win the World Cup. Our country and people deserve it.