CONOR MURRAY NEVER plays like a man with too much weight on his shoulders, but his scrum-half masterclass against France on Saturday had a touch more grace and effortlessness to it than usual.
He’s his own man, Joe Schmidt rightly pointed out, but at least in part, the freedom Murray was afforded came from the vital split seconds defenders divided their attention towards Jonathan Sexton.
Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
The out-half returned from injury to huge acclaim on Saturday, not least from this half-back partner.
“He gives a lot, he gives a massive amount to the team. He’s the one who drives a lot of what we do. He’s worked with Joe (Schmidt) a long, long time, so that experience is invaluable,” Murray says in a jam-packed media mixed zone post-match.
“For me playing with him, we’ve gotten to know each other really well. We’ve played, I think, over 30 times now, and you just know their habits a little bit better.”
Good habits, bad habits and the habit of making the most of bad situations like having to return from injury. Sexton has gotten well-used to tuning himself up to hit the ground running after considerable lengths of time laid off. And his team-mates have become familiar with the tell-tale signs that show when he’s primed to land back with a bang.
I’m playing with him long enough now to know when he’s ready, you know by him in training during the week how he’s going to go.
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“I thought he slotted in really well and that drop-goal relieved a bit of pressure on us and it was great.
“He’s been in camp with us since the start of this campaign anyway, so he’s been around the group for the last month or so and he’s been in all our meetings. He knows what’s going on and is great fella to come and play with us.”
The scrum-half, who scored his 10th international try to help swing the game Ireland’s way after a shaky start, made sure to check himself and divert some praise to Paddy Jackson, who was ushered aside after impressive performances to allow Sexton back into the number 10 shirt.
Billy Stickland / INPHO
Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
“I think you can’t mention him without mentioning Paddy, Paddy has done an awesome job and he came on today and did really well as well so we’ve two really, really strong out-half options, and more.
“I’ve played a good bit with Paddy as well, it’s just about developing those relationships. And Johnny’s world class, so having someone like him, plain and simple, is really good for your team.”
On top of the win over France, England’s first-half struggles at home to Italy have added fuel to the possibility of a Championship showdown in Dublin on St Patrick’s weekend.
Ireland won’t look beyond an incredibly tough-looking Friday night battle with Wales in Cardiff on 10 March, but with a superior points difference, two wins just might be enough for Ireland to wrestle the title back.
Keeping England’s hands off bonus points will be vital to that end, and perhaps a Triple Crown-hunting Scotland can do Ireland a massive favour when they visit Twickenham in two week’s time.
“You’d hope so. They have really good players and game breakers,” adds Murray.
“Those things are out of our control. What was important for us was winning tonight, staying in touch in the championship, which we are. We’ll just focus on Wales. Whatever happens outside of that, if things go your way then great, but at least we have a bit of control in this.”
'He's the one who drives what we do': Murray praises Sexton influence as half-backs steer Ireland past France
CONOR MURRAY NEVER plays like a man with too much weight on his shoulders, but his scrum-half masterclass against France on Saturday had a touch more grace and effortlessness to it than usual.
He’s his own man, Joe Schmidt rightly pointed out, but at least in part, the freedom Murray was afforded came from the vital split seconds defenders divided their attention towards Jonathan Sexton.
The out-half returned from injury to huge acclaim on Saturday, not least from this half-back partner.
“He gives a lot, he gives a massive amount to the team. He’s the one who drives a lot of what we do. He’s worked with Joe (Schmidt) a long, long time, so that experience is invaluable,” Murray says in a jam-packed media mixed zone post-match.
“For me playing with him, we’ve gotten to know each other really well. We’ve played, I think, over 30 times now, and you just know their habits a little bit better.”
Good habits, bad habits and the habit of making the most of bad situations like having to return from injury. Sexton has gotten well-used to tuning himself up to hit the ground running after considerable lengths of time laid off. And his team-mates have become familiar with the tell-tale signs that show when he’s primed to land back with a bang.
“I thought he slotted in really well and that drop-goal relieved a bit of pressure on us and it was great.
“He’s been in camp with us since the start of this campaign anyway, so he’s been around the group for the last month or so and he’s been in all our meetings. He knows what’s going on and is great fella to come and play with us.”
The scrum-half, who scored his 10th international try to help swing the game Ireland’s way after a shaky start, made sure to check himself and divert some praise to Paddy Jackson, who was ushered aside after impressive performances to allow Sexton back into the number 10 shirt.
“I think you can’t mention him without mentioning Paddy, Paddy has done an awesome job and he came on today and did really well as well so we’ve two really, really strong out-half options, and more.
“I’ve played a good bit with Paddy as well, it’s just about developing those relationships. And Johnny’s world class, so having someone like him, plain and simple, is really good for your team.”
On top of the win over France, England’s first-half struggles at home to Italy have added fuel to the possibility of a Championship showdown in Dublin on St Patrick’s weekend.
Ireland won’t look beyond an incredibly tough-looking Friday night battle with Wales in Cardiff on 10 March, but with a superior points difference, two wins just might be enough for Ireland to wrestle the title back.
Keeping England’s hands off bonus points will be vital to that end, and perhaps a Triple Crown-hunting Scotland can do Ireland a massive favour when they visit Twickenham in two week’s time.
“You’d hope so. They have really good players and game breakers,” adds Murray.
“Those things are out of our control. What was important for us was winning tonight, staying in touch in the championship, which we are. We’ll just focus on Wales. Whatever happens outside of that, if things go your way then great, but at least we have a bit of control in this.”
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6 Nations Six Nations Conor Murray France half measures Ireland Sexton