Portugal Test 'to be taken very seriously' - Tucker

Cullie Tucker had a spell as Connacht interim manager last season

Ireland interim forwards coach Cullie Tucker says their Test against Portugal on Saturday is one that will provide a "significant" challenge.

With usual head coach Andy Farrell and 16 players on British and Irish Lions duty in Australia, Paul O'Connell leads the inexperienced side into the game in Lisbon after a comfortable 34-5 win against Georgia last weekend.

And while pleased with their performance in the victory in Tbilisi, Tucker believes Portugal - under former Racing 92 and Munster assistant Simon Mannix - will provide another stern test.

"They're a very good rugby team and it is a game that needs to be taken very seriously," he said.

"We're here to win two games and they're going to provide a different challenge to Georgia and a significant one with the heat on top of that.

"They're coached by Simon Mannix, who is a serious operator, so it is going to be a very tough game, and we are going to prepare for it to be tough."

Tucker took interim charge of Connacht last season after the departure of Pete Wilkins but will return to his role as scrum and contact coach at the province after Ireland's summer tour to work under new boss Stuart Lancaster.

He said the experience away as a coach with Ireland under O'Connell has been hugely beneficial.

"It's been a brilliant experience, it is always good to get in with new coaches, but the calibre of coaching has been outstanding," he added.

"It is great to work with them and everyone is across each other, so it is great to have that environment. We're being really accurate with the messages we have been delivering, and Paul has been driving that."