Tadhg Furlong is determined to make the third Test against Australia on Saturday one to remember, knowing it is likely to be his farewell match for the British and Irish Lions.
While Furlong has not ruled out a fourth-round appearance, he knows the match at Accor Stadium will likely be the final leg of his nine-game Lions adventure.
When told he would be 36 by the time of the next tour to New Zealand, the Irishman responded: “Soon 37. Can you imagine that?
“My motivation is obvious. I won't say I won't… I probably won't represent the Lions anymore.”
“The Lions have been very good to me. They have had a significant impact on my career. I want to play my best game.
“I kind of leave most of those emotions behind, not taking them too personally. You have to give them the best version of yourself.
“Sometimes the last memory is the one that stays with you for the rest of your life when you're wearing a T-shirt. I want it to be a positive one.”
Only seven other players have started nine consecutive Test games, and Furlong is only the second player to do so in his professional career. It is a remarkable achievement for the charismatic athlete, who will return home as a Lions legend. Willie John McBride leads the list with 15 starts.
“I didn't think too much about it and I didn't know about it. I just wanted to try and go on tour and play rugby and see what happened,” Furlong said.
“It's great to get there. When I was younger, when I thought about the Lions, I didn't see myself being in a place where I could be mentioned in the same breath as them – and I probably feel the same way now.”
Furlong made his first tour in 2017 to New Zealand at the age of 24 and has developed significantly as a player since then.
“The game has definitely changed. Rugby was completely different back then. You were on the edge, you were just working hard and then the game went into the outs and I found my way,” he said.
“Then the game shifted to passing and line options and that changed my style of play. Nowadays it's become a hybrid of all
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
