AT 23 years of age, Conor Murray finds himself as the number one choice at scrum half for Ireland and Munster. In what has been a jam packed calendar year, Murray has gone from academy prospect to the leading choice of many to play for the British and Irish Lions this coming summer.
For many, a first Munster cap, Irish caps, a World Cup and a Summer Tour to New Zealand would lead to complacency, but not Murray. The Garryowen man knows only too well, that things in the professional game can change very quickly.
“If you stand still, someone is going to come from behind and leap over you and that can happen quickly”, Murray feels.
After cramming a careers worth of experience into 12 months, Murray is looking to stay at the top and help his team to perform better this season.
“It (his rise through the ranks) has all happened quite quickly but it’s where I always wanted to be. Hopefully, I have a competitive streak in me that I want to be the best and start in teams and play in big games. I’ve had a year to get used to it so with all the retirements and players moving on I now have to take on more responsibility and be more of a leader.”
Murray, who only made his first start for Munster in March of last year, was helped hugely by the present of Tony Mc Gahan. With Mc Gahan now moved on, Murray knows that all players in the Munster set up need to impress the new coaching ticket.
“Rob Penney is known for giving young players their chance but now you feel you need to prove yourself all over again. I’ll have to impress him at training. It’s another challenge.”
Indeed it is. As Tomas O’Leary heads for pastures new, Murray is the firm favourite to once more link Munster’s plays this season. With Peter Stringer’s return and Cathal Sheridan’s promotion from the academy, Munster have a wealth of talent at their disposal ahead of the new season.
With talk of Ireland and Munster, Murray now has to field questions about Lions selection. The Munster nine is likened in the media to Mike Phillips, the Welsh scrum half who was the Lions number nine on the South African tour. At 6ft 2ins tall, Murray has his own views on the traditional stature of the scrum half.
“Rugby is becoming a bigger man’s game. Players are constantly getting bigger, stronger, faster, it’s getting more physical and if I can hold my own and not be battered and bruised and take a few punishments during the year and still stand up, that’s an advantage for me.”
Murray, known in the rugby world as a great reader of the game, is taking this preseason to make improvements on his own game.
“Every game last season wasn’t perfect. After many, you’d come off unhappy with certain things and they’re the things we’re working on now in pre-season. I listen to the coaches and especially with so many experienced players at Munster and Ireland, I ask them for advice because they know an awful lot”.
All Munster fans will hope that these 12 months can be as good as the last for the young number nine.
Conor Murray was speaking at the opening days sales of Munster’s new alternative kit at Elvery Sports, in the Crescent Shopping Centre. Limerick
