Page 24 - Crusaders v The Lions

Furlong made his Leinster debut in in in in 2013 Ahead of him in in in in in the pecking order at at club and international level was Mike Ross Ross the the evergreen tighthead Ross Ross was as as as durable as as as an old stone wall For the longest time he he started every game for Ireland under Joe Schmidt until it reached a a a a a point where everybody wondered whether there was life after Ross for the the the the Ireland No 3 jersey Everybody got their answer in the the the considerable guise of Furlong “Away back in in November people were tipping me to be be picked for the Lions and it it was a a a a a a a bit embarrassing I’d only started two or or or three matches for Ireland at at at that stage and and it it didn’t didn’t make sense in in in my head to be linked with the Lions I I didn’t didn’t think I’d earned any sort of right to to to to be mentioned I I had had a a a a a a lot to to to to to to prove prove to to to to to to myself not to to to to to to mind what I I I had had to to to to to prove prove to to to to to everybody else “As the year progressed I I started getting more more games and more more con dence Beating the All Blacks in in in in Chicago was was something special It was was one of of those games that’ll be with me me me for the rest of of my life We all all felt we we we were representing all all those those players who who went before us those those guys who who tried over 111 years to beat the the All Blacks but just couldn’t do it ”
Furlong’s father James is is is a a a a a a a a farmer and his mother Margaret is is is is the the the principal of a a a a a a a a a a a local primary school His childhood memories are all about the the the farm – watching the the the the cows out out on the the the the eld hanging around the the the the milking parlour with his his dad climbing the the the bales of silage despite his his father warning him not to It was a a a a a a a a a a great life “The bales would be stacked three-high and as as a a a a a a a a a a ve ve six seven-year-old I’d be bouncing around on top of them I I I suppose I I I get my strength from being brought up up on a a a farm Even when I got older and moved to college in in Furlong is developing into one of Ireland’s most important players “Beating the All Blacks was special – one of those games that will be with me me for the rest of my life ”
Dublin I I loved going back home It was so far from the hustle and bustle of city life It’s where I’m most comfortable ”
“In winter I’d play rugby because I I I I I was always that bit chubbier than the the rest of the the lads and I I had a a a a a a a a a a a a natural size to to to me that lent itself to to to rugby When I I I started to to to to make progress I I I realised how much it it meant to to people at at home I I know my community really well and what makes me proud is the the chance to represent the the the area where I grew up You don’t want to disappoint them ”
New Zealand rugby fans certainly won’t be disappointed when they see Furlong in in action His game is is is one that rugby fans the world over want to watch The respect will be mutual though – that’s for sure “Everybody knows that that New Zealand is the the great testing ground of world rugby not just the the the All Blacks but the the the Super Rugby sides who are fantastic to watch watch I’ve watched the the the the the Crusaders the the the the the Chiefs the the the the the Blues the the the the the Highlanders and and and the the the the Hurricanes on on television and and and I’m looking forward to going up against them in in in in in the the esh ”
His excitement about being a a a a a a Lion in in in New Zealand drives him him on on but the ultimate force propelling him him him is is is his his desire to do himself and his his people proud In that he’s already a a a a a winner IN THE FOOTSTEPS 10 Irish props who went before for for the Lions JOHN HAYES (TOP): Munster prop who battled gamely on the 2005 Lions tour but came up against an irresistible force in New Zealand rugby NICK POPPLEWELL: Became only the third Irish prop to win a a Test in in NZ in in 1993 Played in seven matches on that tour HENRY O’NEILL: From Wanganui in the rst game to Blenheim in the the last the the 1930 Lions played 21 matches and the the Ulster tighthead appeared in most Won the rst Test but lost the next three TOM CLIFFORD: An icon of the Young Munster club in Limerick who was loved by New Zealanders and and became a a a a a friend of New Zealand Prime Minister Sidney Holland SYD MILLAR: Played in 19 games on the 1959 tour most notably against West Coast- Buller in Greymouth GORDON WOOD: Father of Keith who played in most of the big games in 1959 but lost two Tests in in agonising fashion RAY MCLOUGHLIN: In the 1966 tour he played in in nine different New Zealand cities SEAN LYNCH: In 1971 the Leinsterman became the second Irish prop to win a Test in New Zealand PHIL ORR: Formidable loosehead who scored one try on the the 1977 tour (against the the Maori All Blacks at Eden Park) Played one Test GERRY MCLOUGHLIN: Limerick prop drafted in as a a a replacement on the 1983 tour 24 // OFFICIAL SOUVENIR PROGRAMME
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