JORDI: GLAD TO BE BAACK AGAIN
IT’S been a “strange” couple of weeks by Jordi Murphy’s own admission.
The starting openside flanker in Ireland’s first-ever win over the All Blacks last November, he wasn’t even in the Test squad a fortnight ago.
Then on Monday of last week he took a call from Joe Schmidt, who told him that Barbarians coach Robbie Deans was in need of a back row for their clash with
Tonga on the Friday.
“I put my hand up straight away,” said Murphy. “I had the week off so I said I’d love to. I went down and there were some very interesting characters.
“The weather obviously wasn’t ideal to play some champagne Baa Baas rugby but I’d always dreamed of playing for the Barbarians growing up so it was great to get my opportunity.”
The Baa Baas’ build-up was like something he last experienced with the Blackrock Under-20s, a casual start to the week that gradually ramped up.
Murphy smiled: “I’d be lying if I said the Baa Baas wasn’t more craic. It was an interesting week. That’s all I’ll say. I wouldn’t want to be doing it every week but it was nice for a bit of a change.”
As it happened, Schmidt called a day after his initial contact to tell Murphy that after the Baa Baas game he was to head to Carton House for Ireland duty.
With Tommy O’donnell and Dan Leavy injured, it was his way back in after spending the guts of a year out – the legacy of the cruciate ligament injury he suffered in that fateful All Blacks game.
Murphy played the 80 minutes in brutal weather as the Baa Baas earned a narrow victory and he was delighted to come through unscathed.
Six days later he was named in Schmidt’s new-look side to face Fiji tomorrow night.
“It’s obviously very exciting,” said the 26-year-old. “I’m looking forward to this weekend. “It has been quite a while. I’m just looking forward to the opportunity, trying to bring what I can to a pretty young but exciting team.
“As soon as I got injured there was no problem filling the void. We had three back rowers going on the Lions.
“A few lads put up their hands as well on the summer tour and sure I wasn’t in the squad until this time a few weeks ago.
“It just shows you how quick things can change. The game is attritional and there are a lot of injuries. You just have to be ready to step in whenever you get the chance and I’m grateful to get that opportunity.
“I’m trying to enjoy every day as much as I can, I’m not taking anything for granted any more.”