Leinster leaning on Furlong's big-game experience to get tighthead through La Rochelle return

READY TO GO: Tadhg Furlong during a Leinster Rugby squad training session. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Leo Cullen is backing Tadhg Furlong’s big-game experience to get the tighthead through Sunday’s Champions Cup third round pool game against Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle at Stade Marcel Deflandre.

Furlong hasn’t played since mid-October when he faced Munster at Croke Park. That’s 13 weeks without game time so this is a big ask going in to what is sure to be a hugely physical confrontation against a Top 14 side that they know all too well.