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Conor Murray admits he was 'shocked' to make Lions

By Josh Raisey
(Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Ireland and Munster scrum-half Conor Murray has said he feels ‘in form’ after being selected for his third British and Irish Lions tour, but admits he was ‘shocked’ to get the call from Warren Gatland.

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Munster recently shared an interview with the 32-year-old on social media after he was selected in Gatland’s 37-man squad to take on world champions South Africa this year.

Murray said that Munster’s form this year was a contributing factor to his selection, after the province made the Guinness PRO14 final this season, losing to Leinster in the decider.

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Murray’s selection was not guaranteed at the beginning of the year, but a strong end to the Guinness Six Nations on top of Munster’s performances would have convinced Gatland to take him as one of his three No9s.

“[I’m] Very shocked,” the five-cap Lion said. “You obviously think you’re in with a shout, but I suppose as the time comes closer and the announcement dragged on there were people chatting and being interviewed before and I was just hoping to get it over with. Be in or out, just get it over with. But it dragged on and in the time leading up to it doubt starts to creep in a little bit, no matter how much you think you have a chance, there’s always that chance that it might not go to plan.

“I’m over the moon. It’s an incredible feeling. A bit of relief because your family are on to you wondering have you heard anything and you’re sick of telling them you don’t know. You find out along with everyone else.

“We were in South Africa in 2016 with Ireland. It’s an incredibly special country, rugby mad, world champions, the storyline is going to build up nicely. Obviously Rassie [Erasmus] and Jacques [Nienaber] are involved still which will be nice to reacquaint with them. I suppose from a personal point of view having been involved in two tours, after the one in New Zealand in 2017, you are trying to map it out what age you’ll be and do you have a chance and there’s always that outside chance. The body feels great, I feel fit, I feel in form playing in a great team here with Munster. We’re a really happy squad, a really content squad and I think that makes an awful difference to how you play on the pitch.

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“Very grateful to be involved in a club like this and that probably puts you in the shop window and puts you in with a chance.”

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Bull Shark 47 minutes ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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