Furlong on Lions Tour Impact
Ireland tight-head prop Tadhg Furlong, who earned his 83rd cap in last week's victory over Italy, has stated that the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia last summer should not be used as an excuse for any decline in player performance.
With 18 Irish players involved in Andy Farrell's squad for the tour, there have been suggestions that some players might be experiencing a post-tour hangover. However, Furlong believes this may be more related to mindset than physical fatigue.
The 33-year-old acknowledged that the additional matches can place extra strain on the body but noted that this is somewhat balanced by a shorter pre-season period.
"It puts extra strain on your body and some of the lads play eight games on those tours, but does it have a hangover? I'm not sure, as the Irish system you get a good pre-season although it was short this year and straight into rugby," Furlong said.
"For some players, to get on the Lions is nearly their pinnacle and the next thing it's how do they get up for the next game, this game or that game and everything seems insignificant the year after. Maybe some think they're better than they are.
"That's the experience I've had with some people who have dropped off after a Lions tour, so it could be physical or mental."
Upcoming Match and Team Prospects
Furlong and the Ireland squad have shifted focus to their upcoming match against England at Twickenham on Saturday (14:10 GMT). He anticipates direct competition with Lions teammate Ellis Genge, whom he describes as "not a fella with a Lions hangover."
Despite England's loss to Scotland in the Calcutta Cup, Furlong considers Steve Borthwick's team strong in the scrum, an area Ireland aims to improve following some difficulties in their win over Italy.
"We were negative three in the penalty count so that was a disappointing result," Furlong acknowledged.
"Italy do have a good scrum and we saw what they did to South Africa in November.
"The fixes are the simple stuff - height, entry and angles, but they did a good job of isolating the two on ones in the scrum."
Furlong, now a veteran in the squad, earned his 83rd cap as a replacement against Italy. Ireland has faced numerous injuries this Six Nations, particularly among forwards, leading to the introduction of several new players into starting line-ups and match-day squads.
Despite a heavy defeat by France in their opening match and challenges in their victory over Italy, Furlong remains positive about the team's development.
"There are players missing through injury or retirement and it changes the feel of the group," he said.
"I remember travelling off to Portugal (pre-Six Nations training camp) and there were a load of new faces there and I was thinking 'this feels a bit different, I feel a bit older'.
"As the weeks went on with the younger players and come of the others came back into camp, the younger players have come out of themselves a bit from a rugby point of view.
"Where that leaves us? The rest of the championship will tell that story but I like where the group is going, there's a lot of promise."
