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Ireland's Robert Baloucoune 'really excited' for Triple Crown tilt

6 March 2026; Robert Baloucoune of Ireland during the Guinness 6 Nations Rugby Championship match between Ireland and Wales at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Robert Baloucoune has scored four tries in seven caps

Robert Baloucoune has added significantly to his highlights reel in the last few months.

A stunning hat-trick for Ulster against the Lions in October kick-started his season and he added braces in his next two games, for Ireland XV against Spain, and against Benetton in the URC.

The Cat, as he is affectionately known, was purring as he earned Six Nations starts against Italy and England and duly scored a try in each game.

He looked on it in the early exchanges against Wales. There was a couple of slick carries and metres post-contact but, along with the rest of the Ireland team, he laboured as the Dragon mounted a respectable comeback that ultimately fell short.

One of the game's turning points came in first-half overtime. Baloucoune dropped a high ball and Wales took advantage of the position, scoring a couple of phases after the scrum.

Ireland were light on numbers on the blind side and scrum-half Tomos Williams quickly recognised the disconnect.

The ball came to loosehead Rhys Carre a good 30 metres out and he had the pace to beat Irish tighthead Tadhg Furlong.

Baloucoune found himself next up but also had Eddie James out wide to deal with. Full-back Jamie Osborne was loitering around the backfield but quick as a flash, Carre was gone.

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For a split second it looked like the Ulster man was close enough to adjust the collar of the prop's shirt but he fell between two stools and the Saracens man was over.

"Yeah, definitely tough to watch back," said the 28-year-old when asked about the incredible score.

"Just kind of reviewed it, being on the same page [as the rest of the defenders] and stuff like that.

"I never like to see that, I hate missing tackles.

"It's something that I'll definitely be looking at in training and trying to compound that. But fair play to the big man, he was flying as well.

"It's something I'll try and cut out of my game."

Notwithstanding that error, Baloucoune has been the find of the tournament from an Irish perspective and is enjoying the best form in his career.

"I think definitely," said Baloucoune, who has been shortlisted, alongside team-mates Nick Timoney, Cormac Izuchukwu and Cian Prendergast for BKT Rising Player award.

10 March 2026; Robert Baloucoune during an Ireland Rugby media conference at the IRFU High Performance Centre in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Baloucoune will win his eighth cap

"It's been a full turnaround since last season as well. The level that I'm playing and the minutes has been unbelievable.

"And my ability just to play games repeatedly is something that's been a big focus of mine, trying to be in training consistently and being able to do that.

"I feel like that allowed me to build confidence each game I'm playing and being able to do that continuously is a big factor.

"I've come into the squad [in previous years], kind of played one game or two games and then I've been out again.

"I feel like I've kind of put my foot forward.

"I suppose when you're playing games as well, you're feeling a bit more part of the whole set-up and stuff.

"So just being able to showcase my skills and put myself forward as well has helped me integrate more into the team this time."

The Enniskillen man gets his fourth international start in a row tomorrow against Scotland and is back in partnership with Tommy O'Brien, who came on to great effect when replacing James Lowe after 18 minutes of the win over England.

"I suppose it's just the way we want to play as well, where you're just getting off the wings and then once you're there, you're working, you're in a spot to be an option or be a threat," he said of the dynamic between the pair before declining to say who's the fastest.

"I think it wasn't a set plan of us working together.

"We've worked hard to get into the space where the space is. We've done our work early as well, so then effectively, we've then linked up and it works really well against England.

"[His pace] means effectively, if he's beside me whenever I'm sprinting through as well, it makes that pass 10 times easier.

"Sometimes if it's someone slower, you don't get to try because they get caught and slowed down. It's definitely a great option to have."

2026 Six Nations table after round 4

Both Ireland and Scotland retain an outside interest in the title but need a huge favour from England, who are 16-point underdogs ahead of their late kick-off against France.

Regardless of what happens later on, the Triple Crown will be decided in Dublin.

"I'm really excited for it," said Baloucoune, whose opposite number Darcy Graham scored two tries against France and beat eight defenders.

"Just being part of this championship...has been an opportunity for me and the team. It's also a great opportunity to get some silverware.

"Scotland have been class in this championship with really exciting backs and obviously the wingers have been playing well.

"I just see it as an opportunity to also show my ability on the pitch and back myself defensively. "

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