TO WATCH THEM from afar, you could be forgiven for thinking Conor Murray and Jonathan Sexton worked in perfect harmony.
Yet, like a swan, there’s a touch of fury underneath the surface to help create that illusion.
Ireland’s nine and 10 have every right to be considered the best half-back axis in rugby. If they’re not, they’ve certainly made a fine fist of their five clashes* (two wins, two losses and a draw) with Beauden Barrett and Aaron Smith over the past 13 months.
But whatever the outcome of those matches, the very fact that the Munster and Leinster icons have risen to play in tandem for Ireland and then the Lions speaks volumes about how masterful they have become since Declan Kidney first combined them as replacements in a 2011 World Cup warm-up defeat to England.
Preparation windows for internationals are extremely tight, so that six-year track record Murray and Sexton have laid down is a big part in what makes them such an effective duo. Though Murray scoffs at the suggestion that they have built an understanding verging on telepathic.
They do find themselves on different pages now and then.
“Telepathic, yeah. He still finds stuff to give out to me about. Don’t worry about that. That’s just Johnny.“
Arguments always flow freely between friends. So while Murray may not have the notoriously demanding reputation that Sexton has created, he certainly isn’t slow to bite back at his fellow playmaker.
“You have to, otherwise you would be goosed! Whatever about him as a player, getting to know Johnny as a person over the last few years, being mates with him now rather than how it was when I first came in, when it was just a fella I played with.
I know this guy off the field now too and that definitely makes it easier. You know the way their mind works and what they might be thinking.
“And then you are together so much in training, there is an understanding, and I think it (personal relationship) is in a really good place.
“I enjoy playing with Johnny. Within this environment, he is a real leader along with Bestie and Seanie. It is a good relationship at the moment.”
After both men were given a rest for the mid-series meeting with Fiji, Murray can look forward to reuniting with Sexton for this Saturday’s Test against Argentina.
As you’ve no doubt heard by now, the last time these sides came face to face was a humbling 2015 World Cup quarter-final.
As one of the handful of players who played that day and will be involved again this weekend, Murray is well-placed to judge the weight that defeat has on the squad this week. The answer, according to the players, is very little. It might be different if there was a semi-final at stake again.
“It’s like getting knocked out of any tournament. I have semi-finals with Munster in Europe in my head that would gnaw away at me as well and you are just thinking what could have been. Like Toulon or Clermont a few years as well, you’re looking at the fact you could have made it to the final and you don’t know what would have happened then.”
Source: Billy Stickland/INPHO
As Murray and nigh on every Irish player this week also point out, there is a new set of players going into the rivalry. And, crucially, that includes Sexton who belatedly joined Paul O'Connell and Peter O'Mahony on the list of casualties arising out of the costly pool win over France.
Past results are history then. This November series has been all about planning for Ireland's future. And for Joe Schmidt's most tried and trusted partnership, that starts on Saturday.
“We’ve been building week on week here and this week is a big opportunity to put down a marker, to put in a really good performance and keep building.
"November is really important, but we’re building for other things as well. That’s the way we view it, so it’s just another chance to play better, put in a better performance than the previous week and keep on building.
"Because by the time the Six Nations comes around you’re going to come up against some really tough teams and you’re going to need to know each other really and know how to play with each other pretty sharpish.”
On the swan goes.
I don’t remember Ali ever dodging a fight for about 5 years like Mayweather!
The lead up to the fight has been a failure. People have become both bored and annoyed by how long the fight’s taking to progress to an agreement, so it’s almost like it’s too late to drum up the hype that would have come naturally to it in 2009-12.
So they’ve to come out with this these tripe statements just to fuel the media outlets who are as bored as the public with it all.
3-5 years ago I’d have bought the PPV, now I’ll just watch the highlights in bed the next morning.
pat look at his record of wins ko’s and world titles at different weights this fella dosent have to dodge anyone it’s all about the purse, are you suggesting he’s fearful of Manny?
Mayweather is a genius of a boxer but his intelligence is confined to the ring alone. Such brainless comments from a guy with zero class. He also described how he has had it as tough as Ali in his public life, laughable stuff!
Mayweather is not the greatest…but neither is Ali…
Simon that is an absolutely ridiculous comment. And to have someone back it up is even more ridiculous. I love boxing and boxers from all eras. But for you to say Ali is considered great because he talked a lot and then he got sick is one of the dumbest comments I have ever seen. He is regarded by most experts as one of the greatest as he was, end of story. Jesus lads get a grip. He doesn’t have to be your number one but don’t make stupid comments when his record speaks for itself.
he’s right John Ali’s record does not even compare to Larry Holmes who’s career was overshadowed by Ali’s persona as I said first John Ali was a great and a lot of that greatness was from his out of ring antics but a great all the same.
2 things Paul, I agree it can be argued about different records in different eras, Holmes was class but he wasn’t as good IMO as Ali, Liston, Frazier or Foreman but he came just after them. He didn’t fight anyone of the same quality so not sure how you can say his record is better, it’s different times. Simon said most people just go along with it as he shouted and and they agreed, and then though the years they called him a great because he got sick and they felt sorry for him? Brainless comment, and an insult to real boxing fans.
I never said he wasn’t in the conversation. He definitely was up there. You make it sound like I said he was completely average. What I am saying is there are ALOT of people out there who give him the edge as #1 for reasons that have very little to do with boxing. They like him because he was funny , rebellious and ultimately because he got sick and everyone felt sorry for him. People get offended when someone points it out but it’s true.
I’m not arguing with you John as your points are valid it’s hard to compare eras Tyson for example beat a lot of very average fighters mind you he battered them ( berbeck ,Michael spinks bonecrusher Smith) to name but a few .
Whisht the lot of ye……….3 words…..Big Joe Joyce………
big Joe would bate all round him.
Paul I have already said that Mayweather is a genius but even if he wins you cannot say he is without doubt the greatest of all time, it just isn’t that simple. Mayweather made some ridiculous statements like dismissing the rope a dope and claimed he has had it tougher than Ali, including racial matters in the current climate. Totally braindead stuff! For what it’s worth I have only seen videos but by all accounts from the experts Sugar Ray Robinson was the greatest, and probably Ali second, I wouldn’t disagree with that.
Ali was considered the greatest because he was a showman and I loved watching him fight no doubt about that, but his record dosent stack up against mayweather who does makes some silly comments but that’s par for the course for most boxer’s.
Not only was ali the greatest boxer of all time, he was and remains to be the greatest sportsman who’s ever lived. Deal with it
that settles that so Don it must be right if you said it.
Right on paul, right on
mayweather record speaks for itself when he batters Pac man which he will he will retire as the undisputed greatest fighter of all time, his point about Leon spinks is correct a fellow of his standard would not be allowed into watch mayweather let alone fight and beat him.
I think Ali is considered the greatest by alot of people because he seemed to shout it to people the most and people just shrugged and said alright then because he could talk. They also say it because he got sick and loads of people have been patronizing him for the last 30 years. The greatest of all time is a matter for opinion and if you disagree then that’s fine. But he definitely has been patronized far too much. Mayweather said as much in an interview a few years ago too and he was right.
100% simon