“He’s finished” – Ireland fans turn on 84-cap legend after tough night in Dublin

Saturday, 07 March 2026 at 07:27

byRugby Rucker

Ireland kept alive their slim hopes of reclaiming the Six Nations title with a bonus-point victory over Wales in Dublin.

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A fortnight on from dismantling England in ruthless fashion, Ireland were unable to deliver another statement performance as a physical Wales side dug in for a bruising contest at the Aviva Stadium.

Wales arrived desperate to end a miserable run, still chasing their first championship win since 2023, and they made life uncomfortable for Andy Farrell’s side in several key areas.

One of those areas was the scrum.

Furlong struggles again

It proved another difficult outing for legendary Irish prop Tadhg Furlong, who endured a testing evening against Welsh loosehead Nicky Smith.

Furlong, an 84-cap veteran and long regarded as one of the best tighthead props in world rugby, has been under scrutiny throughout this year’s tournament. Saturday’s performance did little to silence the criticism.

Fans react online

Some fans suggested the Leinster star may be nearing the end of his time as Ireland’s first-choice tighthead.

“Furlong has had a few spankings this tournament. Great player, but maybe the end is nigh.”

“It actively pains me to say this… but Tadhg Furlong based on this entire season to date appears to be past it.”

Others pointed to the visible frustration on the veteran’s face as he left the field.

“Another tough night for Furlong. Hard to watch one of the former best in the world drop off so much, especially in the scrum! Ireland really need to find another top-level starting loosehead!”

“Thought Furlong was going to cry when walking off. He looked upset.”

One supporter delivered a particularly brutal assessment of the scrum battle with Smith.

“After a handful of scrums against Nicky Smith, Tadhg Furlong has had to go off. Ireland's medical team are currently treating him for multiple fractures of dignity and a shattered ego.”

A legend under pressure

Furlong has been a cornerstone of Irish rugby for nearly a decade, playing a key role in multiple Six Nations triumphs and historic victories for Ireland.

But with the next Rugby World Cup cycle underway and younger props pushing for opportunities, the debate around Ireland’s front row depth is only growing louder.

Ireland may have secured the win in Dublin — but the conversation around one of their most decorated forwards is far from over.

“Lacklustre” – Four Ireland stars who FLOPPED against Wales

Here we look at four underperformers from the Irish ranks.

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Garry Ringrose: Mr Dependable has a wobble

Ringrose’s so-so Six Nations continued with a few uncharacteristic blunders, although he did produce some eye-wateringly violent inside lines that briefly threatened to crack the Welsh defence. He also shipped several heavy tackles from Eddie James as Wales hammered the Irish midfield at every opportunity.

Normally Mr Dependable, Ringrose had to battle to make any real impression against a strong Welsh centre partnership of Joe Hawkins and James, with Ireland’s attack at times looking too predictable to unlock them.

There had been speculation about Ringrose’s place in the starting XV with Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw back in camp, and he did little to quieten that debate. A spilled backwards pass after 27 minutes summed up a frustrating afternoon as Wales swarmed the Irish centre before he could settle into any rhythm.

Jamie Osborne: High-ball headaches

Osborne saw a fair amount of the ball but struggled to turn his touches into meaningful progress. He lost possession in the 20th minute, gifting Wales some badly needed breathing room when Ireland looked to be building pressure.

His issues under the high ball also resurfaced when he fumbled another aerial contest on 57 minutes, allowing Wales to regain territory at a key stage of the game.

The Leinster back did manage to fall over the line for a try in the 67th minute, but that moment could not completely mask an otherwise mixed display in which he struggled to consistently impose himself on proceedings.

Tadhg Furlong: Power without punch

Furlong dug in for plenty of hard yards but never quite looked like the destructive force Ireland rely on. His carrying lacked its usual punch and he even spilled possession in the 56th minute during one of Ireland’s forward surges.

Ireland did initially hold the upper hand at scrum time, and Furlong remained heavily involved in the tight exchanges as the Irish pack tried to grind down the Welsh defence.

However, his afternoon was blemished when he failed to stop opposite number Rhys Carre in the lead-up to Wales’ try before half-time. Frustration began to show as the game wore on, including a heated moment with replacement prop Nicky Smith before he was eventually withdrawn.

Jamison Gibson-Park: A rare off-day

After a phenomenal showing against England, Gibson-Park ran out for his 50th Ireland cap but endured some costly moments as Wales disrupted Ireland’s attacking rhythm.

He remains the focal point of Ireland’s attack, yet his execution was occasionally off. An early pass flew behind Jack Conan and into touch, while he also had to leave the field briefly for a blood replacement midway through the first half.

His most damaging error came on the Welsh try line when he threw a loose pass that was intercepted, handing Wales a lifeline to clear their lines. While he still dictated much of Ireland’s tempo, it was a performance that fell short of the high standards he set in the previous round.