'We had a lot of making up to do': Eden Park looms as Furlong and Ireland look to keep building

Ireland prop Tadhg Furlong. Pic: Ben Brady/Inpho

Andy Farrell might have been bullish on the opportunity ahead for Ireland this weekend, but veteran prop Tadhg Furlong says Ireland has “a lot of making up to do” to turn a dream into reality.

The countdown is on for Ireland ahead of Saturday’s Nations Championship in Auckland, where Farrell’s men are chasing history as they attempt to do the unthinkable by becoming the first side since France in 1994 to beat the All Blacks at Eden Park.

Not even the all-conquering Springboks could achieve the feat last year, with the All Blacks prevailing 21-14 in a late nail-biter to extend their winning run to 51 Tests. 

But like Ireland four years ago, the Springboks bounced back to win the next one a week later.

While Ireland stunned the world and indeed the All Blacks by overturning the first-up defeat on New Zealand soil to win an historic series 2-1 in 2022, the down under in the Shaky Isles is rather different this time round.

Already missing a handful of regular starters for the tour, Ireland’s patchy performances throughout the first two Tests on Australian soil – a late 33-31 win over the Wallabies followed by a 36-20 victory over Japan with a second-string side – have left many questioning whether Farrell’s men are capable of entering the history books.

That sentiment is shared by big-hearted Furlong, but the outstanding tight-head prop believes the group is starting to hit their straps at the right time.

“It's a campaign where we came in and we had a lot of making up to do,” he said.

“We were missing some experienced players in the squad, which is fair enough. It's great to get some promising young fellas through even in front row and stuff like that.

“There's probably a block of players that hadn't played much rugby in a good while.

“I'd like to think we're building nicely in terms of cohesiveness, in terms of sharpness, in terms of just rugby playing ability on attack and defence because it's week four now of proper team training where maybe there's a gang of lads that hadn't played in three, four weeks.

“I suppose Saturday will tell, but it feels like the cohesiveness in the group is building.” 

Taking on the All Blacks isn’t a new thing for Furlong, but it’s not something he’s taking for granted.

“I think everyone loved the haka when they were [young], well, I certainly did growing up in Wexford, and Wexford's a long way away from New Zealand,” he said.

Furlong during squad training at King's College in Auckland. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

While beating the All Blacks was once unimaginable, it’s something Furlong knows a bit about.

It started in Chicago in 2016 and it continued soon after in Dublin.

But after the famous series win in 2022, the All Blacks are on a three-match losing streak.

Furlong, however, didn’t think the form guide was entirely relevant for the Test, nor the All Blacks’ aura either.

“We kind of went on a run,” he said. “There for a period and we could go toe to toe.

“Obviously, they look very impressive in their new management and structures and coaches and they're really having a crack. It seems they're free and they're playing fast New Zealand kind of rugby.

“Things change, rugby changes. I wouldn't say one side's more dominant than the other. They probably tip the scale on recent games played.” 

For Ireland to stand a chance, Ireland will have to shore up their set-piece.

As Furlong mentioned, it’s not been at the “dark” levels of last November against the Springboks, but both Japan and Australia have edged Ireland at the scrum while the lineout has struggled too.

“It was a bit messy in the first game to be fair, on our part,” Furlong said.

“There's certain stuff that we talked about going into the game that we didn't necessarily deliver in-game. So that's disappointing but it's part of the process coming together and trying to get it right.” 

While Farrell unsurprisingly reinstated his regulars in the front-row for Saturday’s season finale, Furlong said he had been impressed by some of the new faces on tour, including Connacht’s Billy Bohan.

“Billy Ball is only a few months over age for under 20. It's remarkable,” he said.

“He's done really well. He's settled into the group.

“You’re asking a lot of a player to come up to speed so quickly because you might be an experienced provincial player, but you're not necessarily an experienced national team player [and] it's two different kinds of rugby in some ways.

“I think the lads have applied themselves unbelievably well. Similarly with Tom [O’Toole], it hasn't been plain sailing by any means. He's so diligent with the work he does. It's not easy mixing front rows for him.”