Tadhg Furlong has declared himself fit for Ireland's Six Nations clash at home to Scotland this weekend, following the hamstring injury sustained in round two against Italy.
Furlong went off injured just minutes into the game against the Azzurri and subsequently missed his side's victorious meeting with Wales, but is now fully fit to return to his no.3 jersey on Saturday.
The Leinster star was speaking during today's media day at Carton House, and praised the medical staff he worked with in his recovery, noting how close he was to a return against Wales and how barely missing out only confirmed how confident he would be for the Scotland match.
"We have an excellent team of physios and doctors here. You know yourself more than anyone that if you're feeling little pinches and pulls here and there, or if it's not quite right. It's massively on the player, only you know that, so it's massively on the player to flag it up. I've been lucky, it feels really good and we've put a lot of work into it in the last three weeks leading into this".
"When you're building up to that Wales game you have a lot of targets to hit on time to get back. You're trying to get your injury right but you're trying to prep for a test match and that can be tough. I suppose Then when you realise you're not going to make it you can concentrate on getting fully right. Then when you don't make that you're really confident you're going to make it back for selection against Scotland".
When asked about his replacement for the previous two games, club teammate Andrew Porter, Furlong was impressed by his performances and lauded Porter's off-field work over the last 12 to 18 months as the Dubliner transitioned from loosehead prop to the tighthead side.
"Ports did really well. He probably would of, I would have said, made his Six Nations debut against Italy really in a way because he played 77 odd minutes. To see him performing well and reaping the benefits of what he puts in off the pitch is massively pleasing, and to see his development and trajectory over the course of the last 12 or 18 months has been really satisfying".
Ireland play host to Scotland in the fourth round of the Six Nations this Saturday before travelling to Twickenham to face England in what could potentially be a championship if not Grand Slam decider, but Furlong is adamant that the players aren't looking past this week's game, with the players not even mentioning the England clash in camp yet.
"I wouldn't say it's banned, it's just not talked about really. It's no different to any other week, where you can't start looking ahead, or ifs, buts, or maybes. You're very much task orientated at the game ahead. How do you eat an elephant? You eat it bite by bite, so it's really game on game for us, and we have a massive one this weekend".
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