The Score uses cookies. By continuing to browse this site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Click here to find out more »
Dublin: 12 °C Saturday 25 May, 2013

‘I have to take Brian for a box-kicking lesson’ – Murray on his scrum-half saviour

O’Driscoll filled in as emergency no.9 against Wales after the Munster man was sin-binned.

O'Driscoll prepares to feed the scrum.
O'Driscoll prepares to feed the scrum.
Image: ©INPHO/James Crombie

THERE WAS A moment near the end of Ireland’s 30-22 win over Wales that Toby Faletau looked certain to have scored against the posts.

Referee Romain Poite allowed both sets of spent players a pause catch a breath as he consulted his touch judge. Yellow was flashed and Conor Murray was off to the sin-bin.

As Murray trudged reluctantly to the sideline, thoughts turned to 30 seconds previous when it looked, for all money, that the Welsh No.8 had touched the ball at the base of the lefthand post.

Replays showed he was agonisingly [for the home support] short and Ireland battled on.

The loss of Murray, yellow carded for not releasing, was an easier pill to swallow. Brian O’Driscoll sidled in and played emergency scrum-half until the clock ticked red.

“He did a good job,” Murray told TheScore.ie. ”I think I have to take him for one box kicking lesson during the week after his kick to touch. Other than that, he was brilliant.

“He had a great game at outside centre and he’s that talented that he can fill in anywhere.”

Conor Murray gets a yellow card  2/2/2013

Murray grimaces at the big screen after his yellow card. (©INPHO/Dan Sheridan)

The Munster scrum-half added, “I would have preferred to have been on the pitch to see out the last 10 minutes and not have the team under that sort of pressure.”

It was probably a silly decision on my part. It was an instinct thing; I felt we were under pressure. I just went for his arm, tried to get away with it but didn’t.”

This Sunday, Ireland will face an out-half that personally put 20 points on them at Twickenham last season.

Owen Farrell followed up a match-winning effort for Saracens against Racing Metro in the Heineken Cup, when he kicked 32 points, by landing 18 points against Scotland.

“This weekend, I don’t think we are going to get away with silly things like [my yellow card],” Murray admitted.

“We played Saracens, with Munster, twice this season and Farrell is a world-class goal-kicker.”

Murray, in line for his 16th cap this weekend, feels England have every reason to be confident going into the match-up at the Aviva. He warns them to expect likewise.

“They had a huge result against New Zealand and another good win at the weekend over Scotland, quite convincingly.

“We’re not going to begrudge them that but we are going to look after ourselves.”

Rob Kearney staying with Leinster, signs new two-year deal

England are coming over to beat us up – Conor Murray

Read next:

Comments (27 Comments)

  • macca 06/02/13 #

    Murrays display In Cardiff was top drawer

    Reply
  • Quite a few pots on here calling kettles black! I think on current form that Murray should start for Ireland, and he played very well in Cardiff.

    The key part of that is current form. He started a number of internationals when he wasn’t number 1 on current form & his delaying at ruck time had sexton tearing his hair out. His pass was too slow & his kicks were generally too long. Since Christmas however his pass has sped up (less looking around at base of ruck) and his kicking has improved.

    That’s my opinion as a Leinster season ticket holder, who has grown up worshipping guys like oconnell Wallace DOC etc..

    I always read these treads and there is a huge amount of tribalism in the comments. It’s par for the course & comes from all sides. To say your sick of it because “there’s always a Leinster fan on…” Is rubbish.

    Munster fans give just as much as they get. A prime example being the constant abuse Darcy takes. Just watch what happened when he left the field on Saturday.

    Reply
  • Munster Leinster rivalry is a joke! I have underpants older than this so called rivalry..n’this is rugby country’ my arse it is..

    Reply
  • How is it, that Leinster fans, not all of them, but some, refuse to give Munster players any credit whatsoever?! Conor Murray is our best scrum half, by a distance! The game has changed, you need a big physical scrum half as opposed to the small nippy one. Scrum halves are now 9th forwards as well as being the 1st back!
    Eoin Reddan couldn’t lace Murray’s boots at the moment!

    Reply
  • Murray is a legend!

    Reply
  • Not this again… Can’t we all just get along……(Anyway, we all know Leinster are just johnny come latelys)…*

    *pulls pin and runs, grinning ;-)

    Reply
  • Conor Murray might want to get a few box kicking lessons himself first!

    Reply
    • clown. Murray was excellent in cardiff . best 9 in Ireland
      do i detect pathtetic “not one of ours ” dear oh dear

      Reply
    • I swear to God I am getting really sick of it Chris. Every Irish rugby page there has been on here there has been some Leinster or multiple Leinster fans rambling on with some bull about Munster players. It’s time to grow up lads. We are on the same side!!! Murray was excellent last week!

      Reply
    • Typical Dub

      Reply
    • Lads pot kettle black springs to mind.
      For every Leinster fan who thinks the blue player is better there’s a Munster one saying the same thing.
      By the way I think boss is the best in current form, not really a fan of Reddan but I don’t think Murray is as good as some make him out to be.

      Reply
    • Not even close!! Munster fans have no hesitation in admitting that Leinster players are the better option for Ireland, the country comes first. As for Murray, Boss?! Really?! Would a Lions tour for the Limerick man, which is a distinct possibility change your mind? Murray is probably the in form player in the Ireland team, how he’s being questioned I can’t work out! It has to be the blue tinted glasses

      Reply
    • The inform player in the Irish team?
      What form the last two games? Because before that was the 60-0 and don’t forget England last year.
      Murrary was slaughtered by Munster fans for Paris and admits to a stupid sinbining last week his words not mine.
      Form Irish player?
      well theres a few who can claim that prize. Ryan, Zebo, bod, darcy, healy, best , O’Brien and Gilroy are all in really good form. Any of them can claim to be in as good as form as Murrary.
      As for the lions I hope so, I’d love to see as many Irish as possible in that tour. There’s only 4 home nations so they will bring 3 SH’s so if he’s starting he’s got a great chance I making the plane.
      Personally I watch every minute of Leinster I can and I think boss is playing his best rugby and I’d have him at the minute.

      Reply
    • Thankfully you’re not picking the team then!! Since his error against Racing in Paris, Murray has shown himself to be a top drawer player! Behind only Ben Youngs as the best in Europe on current form.

      Reply
    • Ah to the best of my recollection Murray wasn’t playing against England last year?

      Reply
    • My point was no Irish player can claim form past the arggie game. Because we were all rubbish

      Reply
    • Shem 06/02/13 #

      The issue with Murray is his selection in the beginning of his international career, and the fact he was lacking in so many aspects of his game. Thats what still lingers in the minds of some people, even if Murray has improved and is now justifying his selection. Its nothing to do with him being from Munster. So some Munster supporters should drop the poor me act and stop perpetuating the provincial bickering they claim they despise.

      Reply
    • Lads, his BOX-KICKING is generally shite. He had his best game for Ireland last week, no doubt about it and I wasn’t questioning any of his other skills, just his aimless, overcooked box kicking. Right now, I think Murray is the right guy for Ireland and he’ll run Youngs close for the Lions test spot. I just wish that the slack Deccie has shown him as he was stumbling through his first matches, had been afforded to other players during their first 10 or so tests.

      Love that the Munster chip on the shoulder has grown so big as to prevent ye from reading my original comment properly.

      Reply
    • I’m confused now Chris? That last point directly contradicts your criticism of Earls?

      Reply
    • How? Firstly I’m an earls fan, I believe he’s the best winger we have, he’s just not a centre full stop.
      And secondly let’s drop this Irish form bit we have strung 2 performances together for years. No-one form for ireland goes past the arggie game.

      Reply
    • As a Munster fan I have to agree with Rob. I think Murray is over-rated. Munster have been a shadow of themselves since stringer has not been picked. Murray is too slow off base of ruck, stringer always fed fast ball. I’m not convinced by reddan either. I haven’t seen enough of Marshal to comment. Just my opinion.

      Reply
  • BOD was the sub scrum half on the ‘Rock JCT in 1994. I’m sure he could teach Murray a thing or two :)

    Reply

Add New Comment