Loughney desperate for another huge Test

So who is Ronan Loughney? The Connacht prop emerged from relative obscurity this season and has anchored the Westerners’ scrum in what has arguably been the province’s most consistent season since rugby went professional.

The Galway native received the call from Declan Kidney to join Ireland’s end of season tour and won his first cap from the bench last weekend when he came on for the injured Declan Fitzpatrick in the second half.

Loughney’s first task was to lock out the Irish scrum from the tight head position on his own goal-line against 88-cap All Black loose head Tony Woodcock. Calling it a baptism of fire would be an understatement.