Murray has unfinished business as he targets Irish joy

IT has been four long years since Conor Murray trudged off the field at the Millennium Stadium. Another World Cup quarter-final. Another failure. A 43-20 trouncing for Ireland at the hands of Argentina. Same old story. It’s been a long wait but Murray is back at a World Cup with unfinished business. Interestingly, he is the only survivor from the backline which was ripped apart by the Pumas in 2015. So Murray heads into tomorrow’s opening World Cup game against Scotland as the lone ranger from that Cardiff debacle. The Munster scrum-half is blindsided slightly when he is informed of that stat. ‘We had a few injuries the last time we played a World Cup game, so a few lads to come back in and a few lads who have come into the squad and done really well and made an impression,’ he said. ‘It’s quite a settled squad that we have. ‘I’ve talked about it any time I’ve done media before the World Cup, the last four years and what we have done and the results we have had. It would be foolish of us now to start talking about 2015 within the group. ‘Our focus is on Scotland and what we can achieve. We know how good we can be when we perform and are on song. ‘There is plenty of confidence and belief in each other that we can go out and do a job if we get things right.’ Scotland first up will test Irish ambitions. The debacle at Murrayfield in 2017 should prove adequate warning. Ireland went into the first round of the Six Nations in buoyant form, having beaten the All Blacks for the first time ever the previous November, but Stuart Hogg ran riot and the visitors found themselves 21-5 in arrears early doors. Murray and Co mounted a second-half fightback but the damage had been done and Scotland prevailed 27-22. ‘We started slowly that day,’ said Murray. ‘They managed to find a lot of space out wide. Even the games we’ve won, they’re such a dangerous side and one that you do not take lightly at all. It’s going to be a massive test.’