MUNSTER ARE RANK outsiders for next week’s Heineken Cup semi-final against Toulon in Marseille.
Nothing to lose. Come in under the radar. Every inch gained is a victory. You never beat them twice… Great, right?
No.
Conor Murray has heard enough talk of thriving on underdog tags and proving a point to the day’s favourite.
He grew up with a different Munster, a different Ireland. Teams whose talent made them expect to be challenging at the very top with or without the approval of the bookies.
Asked about whether the current squad surrounding him was ready to dig their trenches and bellow out Stand Up and Fight until they could stand no more, Murray didn’t quite wince, but he certainly didn’t hesitate to say that modern-day Munster Rugby does not identify so much with that mentality.
“I suppose that’s the outside opinion of Munster at the moment,” says Murray, “I think it’s the traditional view people have of Munster – that we’re going to be underdogs and try to hang in there and hope for a result.”
The scrum-half will later tell TheScore.ie that his eyes had been opened by touring with Ireland and then the Lions. Returning to Munster made him realise how close his day-to-day team-mates were to that top echelon of rugby.
“We’re probably cursed by the old traditional view of Munster.
Advertisement
“I think we have a great team at the moment. We have a great pack, they’ve stood up again this year and made life for us – especially in the half-backs – really enjoyable.
“I’ve played a lot of games where I’ve been on the front foot and it’s been an armchair ride.”
He added: “I know Toulon are a fantastic side, they have superstars, but within our squad at the moment we rate each other really highly and on our day we can beat anyone.”
The newly unveiled ambassador for MaxiNutrition singled out BJ Botha, CJ Stander, Dave Kilcoyne and (after his tussle with Patricio Albacete) Dave Foley for special mention in the pack ahead.
Ireland’s southern province are our sole representative in the final four of European competition for the second year in a row. That’s for a reason, and it’s not their reputation.
“If you asked me before the Toulouse game if I’d pictured that scoreline and I know I didn’t. But I knew we definitely had the quality to do well against Toulouse and win.
“If we look after our own game and do that right, manage to defend really well and play at the level we expect of each other, I don’t see any reason why we can’t beat any club team.
Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
“I don’t know if that’s too confident or having so much of that underdog tag thrown at you – I just see so much quality in our squad at the moment and maybe they aren’t players that people are aware of but the standards are really high.”
Murray is only too aware that convincing outsiders of the current squad’s talent and wearing a favourite’s tag comfortably is difficult, especially when the comparisons come down to medal counts.
“For that to happen we need to win something first. We need to have a trophy to show for that and that will really hit home to everyone in the squad. Not just show up for a big performance in a quarter-final and then go out the next week against Glasgow and slipup.
“We need to become really consistent. That’s another thing we have to address.”
Addressing that consistency comes in Galway with the Pro12 playoff race becoming too close for comfort.
Against Connacht, Munster will be heavy favourites and the western province will be the team with a point to prove and nothing to lose.
That should suit both sides perfectly.
MaxiNutrition, Europe’s leading sports nutrition brand, have products in four categories: Recover and Rebuild; Mass and Size; Strength and Power; and Lean Definition.
These clear product ranges make it more straightforward for people to know which product is right for them both by their goal and training status. MaxiNutrition’s new range is based on science and a real understanding of the benefits of protein-led sports nutrition. Click here for more information on MaxiNutrition.
Outdated view of Munster mentality 'a curse' -- Conor Murray
MUNSTER ARE RANK outsiders for next week’s Heineken Cup semi-final against Toulon in Marseille.
Nothing to lose. Come in under the radar. Every inch gained is a victory. You never beat them twice… Great, right?
No.
Conor Murray has heard enough talk of thriving on underdog tags and proving a point to the day’s favourite.
He grew up with a different Munster, a different Ireland. Teams whose talent made them expect to be challenging at the very top with or without the approval of the bookies.
Asked about whether the current squad surrounding him was ready to dig their trenches and bellow out Stand Up and Fight until they could stand no more, Murray didn’t quite wince, but he certainly didn’t hesitate to say that modern-day Munster Rugby does not identify so much with that mentality.
“I suppose that’s the outside opinion of Munster at the moment,” says Murray, “I think it’s the traditional view people have of Munster – that we’re going to be underdogs and try to hang in there and hope for a result.”
The scrum-half will later tell TheScore.ie that his eyes had been opened by touring with Ireland and then the Lions. Returning to Munster made him realise how close his day-to-day team-mates were to that top echelon of rugby.
“I think we have a great team at the moment. We have a great pack, they’ve stood up again this year and made life for us – especially in the half-backs – really enjoyable.
“I’ve played a lot of games where I’ve been on the front foot and it’s been an armchair ride.”
He added: “I know Toulon are a fantastic side, they have superstars, but within our squad at the moment we rate each other really highly and on our day we can beat anyone.”
The newly unveiled ambassador for MaxiNutrition singled out BJ Botha, CJ Stander, Dave Kilcoyne and (after his tussle with Patricio Albacete) Dave Foley for special mention in the pack ahead.
Ireland’s southern province are our sole representative in the final four of European competition for the second year in a row. That’s for a reason, and it’s not their reputation.
“If you asked me before the Toulouse game if I’d pictured that scoreline and I know I didn’t. But I knew we definitely had the quality to do well against Toulouse and win.
“If we look after our own game and do that right, manage to defend really well and play at the level we expect of each other, I don’t see any reason why we can’t beat any club team.
“I don’t know if that’s too confident or having so much of that underdog tag thrown at you – I just see so much quality in our squad at the moment and maybe they aren’t players that people are aware of but the standards are really high.”
Murray is only too aware that convincing outsiders of the current squad’s talent and wearing a favourite’s tag comfortably is difficult, especially when the comparisons come down to medal counts.
“For that to happen we need to win something first. We need to have a trophy to show for that and that will really hit home to everyone in the squad. Not just show up for a big performance in a quarter-final and then go out the next week against Glasgow and slipup.
“We need to become really consistent. That’s another thing we have to address.”
Addressing that consistency comes in Galway with the Pro12 playoff race becoming too close for comfort.
Against Connacht, Munster will be heavy favourites and the western province will be the team with a point to prove and nothing to lose.
That should suit both sides perfectly.
MaxiNutrition, Europe’s leading sports nutrition brand, have products in four categories: Recover and Rebuild; Mass and Size; Strength and Power; and Lean Definition.
These clear product ranges make it more straightforward for people to know which product is right for them both by their goal and training status. MaxiNutrition’s new range is based on science and a real understanding of the benefits of protein-led sports nutrition. Click here for more information on MaxiNutrition.
’It’s another world out there’, but Murray ready to fill Munster’s number 10 jersey if needed
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
brave new world Conor Murray fresh thinking maxi nutrition maximuscle Munster Toulon