'All carrot and no stick' - Furlong on Grand Slam bid

Tadhg Furlong says Ireland must "play the game and not the occasion", when they kick off their Guinness Six Nations finale against England this Saturday, although he says the players will be hugely motivated by the chance of winning a Grand Slam on home soil.

Ireland have never completed a Grand Slam in Dublin, with the 2009 and 2018 victories coming in Cardiff and Twickenham, while their first ever win in 1948 was completed at Ravenhill rather than Lansdowne Road.

Likewise, they've also never been able to lift the Six Nations trophy on home soil - in the professional era - with their 2014 and 2015 titles also coming on the road.

With the final round of the championship falling as it always does on St Patrick's weekend, and England the visitors to the Aviva Stadium, Furlong says there's motivation for Ireland at almost every corner.

"It's massive, I think the occasion obviously adds to it from a player perspective, in the dressing room there's a bounce about it," he says.

"It's all carrot and no stick, if that makes sense. It's on us to play the game and not the occasion, and that's at the forefront of our mind.

And while he says the players won't get caught up in the occasion on the day, they have to allow themselves enjoy the experience of preparing for a Grand Slam decider.

"It's all on the line. If you’re not excited about playing this weekend, why are you playing the sport, what are you doing?

"I think the group is very excited and everyone is different within that. Some people love going out there and showing how good they are. There’s other people that maybe find themselves that they get small on that attention or pressure.

"I think we’ve a very good balance in the squad where we can talk about that to get the most out of