IRELAND SCRUM-HALF Conor Murray has no reservations about Jonathan Sexton’s readiness to start Saturday’s Six Nations this Saturday.
Until today, the Racing Metro number 10 has been restricted to non-contact training since suffering concussion (his fourth in 12 months) against Australia in November.
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However, after working closely with Sexton, Murray insists the out-half is fit and ready to play at the highest level.
“When I wasn’t doing contact a couple of weeks ago,” the Munster scrum-half says, “I was doing a bit of fitness and running with Johnny; we were going head-to-head and he looked really fit and was running really well.
That won’t be an issue with him, he’s been training really hard, he’s just been staying away from contact, but he’s been doing his weights and fitness work, so that shouldn’t be a problem.”
After a month in which he was restricted to limited training himself having injured his neck in Munster’s away win over Zebre, Murray admits that there is no substitute for match fitness. However, with tight monitoring from the strength and conditioning (S&C) staff, the transition became easier for Murray to make his mark on the competition with Ireland’s opening try and a man-of-the-match award.
“Playing an actual game is a bit more difficult with the match fitness that the people talk about, but I was really looked after well by the S&C and the physios. They got me up to a level where I was happy to into a game and perform.
Marcus Sheridan / INPHO
Marcus Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
“Maybe it was a good hit-out that I needed. The lungs were working at times, but I felt good during the game Felt I had done my rehab well and I was fit enough, so it’s going to be better for me moving forward this week.”
And with a bit of luck, Ireland’s fresh first choice half-backs will have plenty of minutes together in the four games that remain in the Championship.
Fitness 'won't be an issue' for Sexton after three-month absence -- Murray
IRELAND SCRUM-HALF Conor Murray has no reservations about Jonathan Sexton’s readiness to start Saturday’s Six Nations this Saturday.
Until today, the Racing Metro number 10 has been restricted to non-contact training since suffering concussion (his fourth in 12 months) against Australia in November.
However, after working closely with Sexton, Murray insists the out-half is fit and ready to play at the highest level.
“When I wasn’t doing contact a couple of weeks ago,” the Munster scrum-half says, “I was doing a bit of fitness and running with Johnny; we were going head-to-head and he looked really fit and was running really well.
After a month in which he was restricted to limited training himself having injured his neck in Munster’s away win over Zebre, Murray admits that there is no substitute for match fitness. However, with tight monitoring from the strength and conditioning (S&C) staff, the transition became easier for Murray to make his mark on the competition with Ireland’s opening try and a man-of-the-match award.
“Playing an actual game is a bit more difficult with the match fitness that the people talk about, but I was really looked after well by the S&C and the physios. They got me up to a level where I was happy to into a game and perform.
“Maybe it was a good hit-out that I needed. The lungs were working at times, but I felt good during the game Felt I had done my rehab well and I was fit enough, so it’s going to be better for me moving forward this week.”
And with a bit of luck, Ireland’s fresh first choice half-backs will have plenty of minutes together in the four games that remain in the Championship.
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