Conor Murray

Now a World Cup veteran, the proud Munsterman is adapting his game for the greater good

- ALAN DYMOCK

FOUR YEARS is a long time in the rugby life cycle. But sometimes things repeat when it comes round again. For example, remember when Ireland were top of the rankings in 2019? Conor Murray does.

“Just in terms of what we’ve been through in the last four years, it’s just a very different feeling,” Murray tells Rugby World. “Going into the last Rugby World Cup – now we don’t pay much attention to it – but we were ranked number one and people were talking about it. But, oof, were we truly? Did we really feel we belong there?

“We had loads of success back then as well, which we were very fortunate to have. And we don’t genuinely talk about rankings or anything like that. We’re aware of where we stand. But I think there’s more validity to where we are at the moment in terms of what we’ve come through.

“So in the last 12 months we’re definitely a more confident group, we believe in ourselves an awful lot more. We’re comfortable wherever we stand, if you get me. We’ve been through the mill in the last few years since the last World Cup and we’ve definitely grown as a group, and individually I suppose. You tie your individual role in with the team, in a way, after what we’ve been through.

“I see myself as part of a really competitive squad; a squad you need to be on top of your game to be a part of. That’s how I come at it every day. You want to be tested every day you come to training. You’re kept on your toes an awful lot in this environment, which is where you want to be.”