Marmion’s big chance to show Joe his talents
KIERAN MARMION has acknowledged that he needs to step up to the plate and impress in the absence of Conor Murray during Ireland’s summer tour of the US and Japan.
Joe Schmidt’s squad flew to New York yesterday ahead of Saturday’s clash with the US at New Jersey’s Red Bull Arena, and with regular first-choice scrum-half Murray away with the Lions, Marmion accepts he needs to mark his mark as the most senior No 9 in the young squad.
‘He has challenged a few of us to step up [who] probably wouldn’t have been senior players before,’ said Marmion.
‘But with lads missing and lads coming in for their first time… lads have been challenged to step up, I guess I’m one of them who’ve been around for a bit of time now. There’s an opportunity there off the field as well, to step up and try to lead a bit more.’
The 25-year-old made his international bow in late 2014, but has only racked up 12 further appearances due to the form and reliability of Schmidt favourite Murray.
However, a solid showing in the absence of the injured Munster star during Ireland’s Six Nations win over England in March has reassured Marmion that he able to cut it at the top level.
‘It gives me huge confidence to play in those sort of environments,’ he admitted.
‘Playing against one of the top teams in the world you know you can play against the best. It gives you confidence going back into your province, and then in other games with Ireland knowing you have got that in the bank. You can try and work from there and push on.
‘No, it’s completely different [at international Test level]. A whole lot bigger than any game I’ve played before, but going out there and being thrown in is the best way to learn from it. It was a great opportunity, I really enjoyed it.’
There will be plenty more opportunities over the coming weeks, with Saturday’s game followed by two further fixtures with Japan, and Marmion says the plan is not only to show that he is a solid option at scrum-half, but also that he has different strengths to the ever-reliable Murray.
‘I guess I’m a different player to Conor. I guess when you’ve got someone who’s working for you and going well, you’re going to place your trust in that.
‘Joe is always on to me about working on certain aspects of my game. I’ve been working hard on that, so it’s just adding that to what I already do and I guess, my traits of the game that are a bit different to Conor’s, I try to bring that in as well,’ said Marmion.
‘Joe gives you a bit of a licence but obviously you’ve got to be nailed on with what he wants as well. So it’s about making sure I do that, and then when the opportunities come to bring my stuff in, as long as it works out.’