Ireland prop warns against underestimating challenge pose by Wales
Ireland's Finlay Bealham had a point to prove going into this year's Six Nations, and he's made his case very well so far. Photograph: Billy Stickland/Inphosuffered an unfortunate recurrence of his calf problems in the pre-tournament camp in Portugal, it afforded Bealham a chance to banish personal demons lingering from Ireland’s November outing against Australia.
“I definitely didn’t have my best day at the office. I got in my own way and made some mistakes. I obviously don’t want to make mistakes but I made a lot of mistakes. I suppose coming into this campaign, I knew Tadhg was out, and it was another big opportunity for me and I tried to take the pressure off myself and really trust what I’d done, and all the work we’d done as a team. And coming into the games now I feel really good, I feel really fresh. I’m just going to stay out of my own way.
One of the jokers in the Irish pack, often on the microphone at the front of the bus, Bealham had been on the receiving end from his team-mates after the loud scream he made when his ankle was caught awkwardly under an English player, a misfortune that put him in doubt for last Sunday’s game in Edinburgh.
When Furlong was sidelined for the first three rounds of the 2023 Six Nations, Bealham had still to prove himself an able deputy for the two-time Lions Test tighthead. All that changed when Bealham put together a run of three strong starts in the wins over France, Wales and Italy. So, this campaign offers redemption on a number of levels, with the prize of taking part in a historic third successive title.
Ireland-Rugby Finlay-Bealham Tadhg-Furlong
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