CONSIDER.. Murray is ready for the Reds
Schmidt has plenty of players in mind
second half. There are guys who have been on that fringe for a while.
“He’s had a few injuries, he’s started the second Test in Melbourne and got injured in those first few minutes with a hip pointer.
“He’s been there or thereabouts.”
During the Grand Slam campaign that he missed through injury, Conway learned he’s better off watching Ireland matches away from the Aviva Stadium when not a part of the matchday squad.
So it was last week.
“It’s probably the strangest part of rugby; you’re so envious and so wanting to be there and you have to watch on,” said the 27-year-old.
“You watch the lads line up for a lineout and you know what’s going to happen. It’s just a weird feeling.
“It’s tough watching when you’re quite close to it and not picked for those big games. But the best part of rugby, especially at this time of the year, is that there’s another game – and now I’ve got a chance to put my name forward.
“So it’s on me to take that. I realise how big it is because it’s the last thing Joe will be analysing for the next few weeks.
“If you haven’t broken into that starting XV and you get a chance, you know that it’s a huge game.”
Zebre Munster Tomorrow, 3.30pm
v CONOR MURRAY and Chris Farrell return for Munster tomorrow as Johann van Graan’s travel to Italy.
As well as this expedition to Parma, the Reds have to cope with a five-day turnaround before facing Edinburgh next in Cork.
It’s first things first though, and Munster are primed for a tough challenge despite never losing to Zebre.
“Over there it is difficult. They are a tough side,” said Munster coach JP Ferreira. “They beat Cardiff, they beat Bristol Bears a while back.
“They don’t kick it that often, so I am expecting a high-paced fast game, an offload game and the physicality will be up there.”
Both Murray and Farrell are on the bench following lengthy injury lay-offs.
Conor Oliver joins them there after a foot injury,