LET ME GO CON & ON
Murray determined to prolong his Ireland career
EVERGREEN Conor Murray wishes he was only kicking off his Ireland career now – and is in no rush for the journey to end.
At 34, the finish line is closer than the start for the Munster stalwart but he he plans to play on for as long as he is wanted by club and country.
Murray, who will be on the bench against Wales on Saturday, concedes that he is in the “twilight” of his career.
Yet the environment fostered by Andy Farrell and the success that has followed – bar October’s World Cup exit – makes the Limerick man hungry for more.
“I’d like to be just starting off my career with this group because it’s so exciting where it could head,” said Murray. “Players have always said how enjoyable it is. That’s because of the standard that we’re capable of getting to and how we can play.
“We’ve been on this journey for three, four years now and it’s ever growing, ever evolving. The potential we have, striving to get to that, is there every day. It’s a really challenging and enjoyable environment.
“Everyone comes into camp with a pep in their step. Faz and the coaches put pressure on but there’s a demand on the players to be themselves, be curious about the game plan and really understand it.
“We’re coached really well. It’s also up to the players to solve problems and chat through how we are going to play. It’s about owning it.”
Murray describes the World Cup quarter-final exit as “a big disappointment” but flips it by saying he is proud of how the players bounced back.
He explained: “You might see some other teams with a bit of a World Cup hangover. But we were really honest in our review of it and our game keeps growing. Credit to the coaches, the players and the staff for shaking it off and getting on with it, appreciating where this team can go.
“We still know we’re not a finished product by any stretch but it’s really exciting. You cherish it even more and that makes you even more hungry to be involved. I hope the public can see too where this team could head and the levels we can get to. It burns the fire a little bit more in you.”
Murray’s current IRFU contract ends in the summer but he is still being preferred to Craig Casey in the pecking order behind Jamison Gibson-park at Test level, coming off the bench in Marseille against France in the Six Nations opener.
But Casey has been
Munster’s main man in the most important matches in Europe for over a year.
Quizzed on his future, Murray replied: “You have those conversations with yourself away from the pitch. Ultimately it’s up to the coaches whether they feel you’re still firing and able to play at that level.
“My body feels great and it was even good to go back to Munster last week and get a good bit of game time, match fitness and match sharpness. I’ll go until I’m told otherwise.”
So another two, three, even four years is the plan? Could he make it to Australia 2027?
“Yeah, as long as possible,” Murray admitted. “That’s what you want as a professional.”