O'Toole enjoying being part of 'an especially tight-knit group'

The Drogheda-born Ulster prop more than played his part, Furlong’s injury leading to the first of five replacement appearances in which O’Toole did not let the side down, not least in getting the Grand Slam over the line last Saturday against England with seven tackles in his 22 minutes on the field at Aviva Stadium.

TIGHT KNIT GROUP: Tom O'Toole is enjoying being part of an tight knit group of front rowers. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

In a Grand Slam-winning campaign highlighted by Ireland’s ability to stay calm and composed through turbulent moments across all five matches, the contribution from the front-rowers in particular stands out for special mention.

From Finlay Bealham’s answering of the call to arms when Tadhg Furlong failed to make kick-off in round one due to a calf injury to Cian Healy’s rescue mission against Scotland as a scrummaging stand-in for injured hookers Dan Sheehan and Ronan Kelleher, no unit has better exemplified the no-excuse mentality that has underpinned this Guinness Six Nations title success.