STRIKE IT RICH

Murphy tells brave Irish lads to be their best version

- MICHAEL SCULLY

RICHIE MURPHY wants his Ireland players to be the best versions of themselves in tomorrow's World Rugby U20 Championship semi-final against hosts South Africa.

Murphy admitted yesterday he was "extremely proud" of how his squad has dealt with the tragedies that have impacted them in recent days.

Both were close to home with six of the panel attending the same school as Andrew O'Donnell and Max Wall, the 18-year-olds who died on the Greek island of los, while reserve scrum-half Jack Oliver's father Greig, a Munster coach, died in a paragliding accident in Cape Town on the eve of the final pool game against Fiji. Jack stayed with the squad until Wednesday night but has returned home with his mother Fiona.