Paul O’Connell praises ‘big leader’ Tadhg Furlong as Ireland prepare to host Argentina

Ireland forwards coach Paul O’Connell was asked to sift through the remnants of the Tadhg Furlong exoneration and he did so in a measured and reasonable fashion. The tighthead prop’s availability for Friday’s Nations Championship match against Argentina at the Aviva Stadium is a boon for the group, especially in the absence of several key figures.

O’Connell explained: “He’s a big leader in the group. So yeah, it’s excellent. We’re missing two important leaders in the group. Well, more than two, but Jack Conan and Caelan Doris in the forwards, so it would have been disappointing to have lost him. tough week for him and a tough week for Gavin as well, I’m sure.”