Irish Daily Star - Inside Sport
Murray has scot the lot
FARRELL’S PRAISE AFTER CONOR GIVEN THE NOD
CONOR Murray has been an unlikely superstar in Ireland’s Six Nations campaign to here.
Patrickswell’s finest may have linked up with the squad with a potential cloud raining in his face.
His first team spot had been taken by Jamison Gibson-Park, the Kiwi’s performances in the series win over the All Blacks in New Zealand nailed that.
Meanwhile, having Craig Casey snapping at his heels at Munster had morphed into similar heelsnapping in the Ireland squad.
Moreover, there were huge sections of the Irish fanbase becoming increasingly happy to label him a one-trick, box-kicking no9.
It was a wrong call as, at Test level Joe Schmidt and at club level Johann van Graan had him work from pre-ordained playbooks.
Little could Murray know, arriving in Dublin at the end of January and on the eve of the 2023 campaign, know just how thoroughly this perception would be unfrocked.
Firstly, a news bulletin; picked to start in Wales, Gibson-Park picks up a hamstring tweak on Friday at the Captain’s Run and, latterly, fails a Saturday morning fitness test.
Coach
Murray has prepped all week for the bench, working with the ‘finishers’ tactics’.
Coach Andy Farrell says he toyed with the idea of leap-frogging Casey to start... for about two seconds. Then ‘nah Conor you’re my man’.
Ireland win; Murray works every play in JGP’s playbook to perfection; he kicks the ball from his hands just once.
Meanwhile as the following week, that of the France game unfurls, his father is seriously injured in a cycling accident.
Taking midweek time out to visit the hospital in Cork, Murray is back, mind, body and soul on Saturday in
Dublin for another superb performance in Ireland’s second win.
Sure there was a deserved ‘rest’ for Italy in Rome as Casey started but, following an iffy display from the youngster, there was something very soothing about Murray coming on to close out the game.
Man of Steel Farrell knows a thing or two about fortitude and he has watched as his man responded to the many challenges, onfield and off-field.
“Well it doesn’t surprise me, first and foremost, because it takes a lot to shake him,” says Ireland boss Farrell of Murray.
Confidence
“He’s been through a lot, hasn’t he, over the last few years, Conor.
“I’ve never seen his confi
dence break at all, never seen him sulk, never seen him feel sorry for himself, he’s just kept working hard.”
But then the coach often stresses the need for modern players to avoid the trap of being too cool for school or allowing themselves to be pampered.
“These weeks just show the character of Conor, that’s why he’s playing like he is, that’s how it has been so far for him in this campaign.
“That he is still able to perform like he has is a credit to him and his family, how he’s handled the whole thing.”
Gibson-Park is back and available but Murray will be at scrumhalf in Murrayfield tomorrow.
Proof positive the coach sees Murray as an all-court, allrounder, and not necessarily the player who was straight-jacketed by certain coaches.
Fantastic
“He’s been fantastic for us so far, he is a great rugby player for 80 minutes and we also know how good he is in that impact (sub) role, as well, if needed.
“Unfairly sometimes the player gets judged on a certain style of game.
“Sometimes he’s just following orders you know — what can the player do, he just conforms.
“I’ve always had confidence in Conor’s ability.”
Why not?
Farrell was working as England’s Defence Coach from 2011 to 2015 before his stint with Ireland.
“Have a look at how he started his international career,” he says, harking back to the player’s August 2011 international debut and subsequent RWC2011 performances.
“What type of game was he playing then?
“He was playing quick and he was darting around making breaks etc — that’s him.
“That’s naturally him being himself and, over time, certain styles come in for winning different types of games.
“Conor conforms to that and he’s enjoying his rugby at the minute.”
Elsewhere and, as expected, Johnny Sexton comes back in to skipper the side following missing out against Italy with concussion.
Returning
Bundee Aki moves to inside centre to facilitate Garry Ringrose who was a late withdrawal in Rome.
Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong come into the front-row with Peter O’Mahony returning to blind-side flanker and Caelan Doris shifting across to no8.
Three players Cian Healy, Gibson-Park and Robbie Henshaw return from injury and come straight onto the bench.