Hartley to face maul Mcgrath
LEINSTER’S Jack Mcgrath feels taming Dylan Hartley will be key to the province’s hopes against Northampton over the next two weekends.
Hartley has a string of suspensions to his name but has put his wild child days behind him since Eddie Jones appointed him England captain.
“Some people are a bit mad when they are younger and he seems to have grown out of it,” said Ireland prop Mcgrath, who will face Hartley in the front row.
“I don’t know the guy but he’s shown that he can eradicate that from his game. It’s been really good for him because he has had a successful time since he’s done that.
“Like a lot of players he has matured and he has been given that opportunity now to be English captain and I don’t think he has put a foot out of place since.
“I haven’t played against him a whole lot but to watch him play he doesn’t take a step backwards. He leads from the front and guys follow and that’s the type you want on your team. I have a lot of respect for him.
“It will be a good battle because his bread and butter is scrum and lineout and breakdown. It’ll be good to go up against a calibre of player like that.” IRELAND scrum-half Conor Murray says he can’t wait to help lead Munster into Champions Cup battle this weekend.
The Limerick man had a fantastic November series, starring in the wins over New Zealand and Australia.
Murray, 27, has played 53 times for his country and believes he is now part of the leadership group for his province too.
Munster clash with Leicester Tigers at Thomond Park on Saturday as they look to stay top of Pool 1 in the Champions Cup and Murray is excited.
“I feel really good. Since the South Africa tour, I have taken on more of a leadership role,” he said. “I just feel a bit more comfortable in the group, not just in Ireland but in Munster too. That allows you to play a lot better.
“My body feels really good, really fit, and that’s half the battle. If you can be injury-free, week in week out, you build that form.
“I am in a good place. It’s going to be a good year and I am happy with the start I have made, but there are going to be massive challenges.”
Munster made it six wins in a row with another brilliant victory away to Glasgow Warriors last weekend.
Murray – who has scored 19 tries in 90 appearances for the Reds – has played a huge role since they began that run with a 38-17 Champions Cup victory over Glasgow on October 22.
Their first round fixture, away to Racing 92, was called off after the death of former coach Anthony Foley, and Munster have looked inspired ever since.
Of Saturday’s opponents, Murray added: “There is a lot of history there between us and Leicester and they were in our group last year.
“We played well away from home and just came up short, whereas at home we didn’t really fire a shot.
“We didn’t play that well and they out-performed us.
“We were always chasing the game and second best.
“I am sure when we have previews of
Leicester this week those clips will be brought up.
“That will urge us to train really well and prepare really well to make sure that doesn’t happen this time.
“They are a really good side on a good run as well. It’ll be whoever executes their gameplan better because we are similar teams.”