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'He thinks he's a fly-half already': The Murray-at-10 cameo had Farrell salivating
Eddie Jones has been full of mischief this past week teasing about how he might play forwards as backs and vice-versa in an attempt to develop hybrid players for England, even inventing new terminology for the position Jonathan Joseph will play versus Georgia.
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However, it’s now Ireland’s turn, Andy Farrell floating the notion of maybe implementing his own major reshuffle when they visit Twickenham next Saturday for their Autumn Nations Cup clash with the English.
Andy Farrell’s side opened their account on Friday night with a dominant 32-9 win over a miserable Wales, but the victory wasn’t without its hiccups. Skipper Johnny Sexton trudged off with a 29th-minute hamstring issue while his replacement, the debut-making Billy Burns, also pulled up lame with a bang to the head and departed prematurely.
Sexton is set for a scan this Saturday to ascertain the extent of his problem and he isn’t as yet ruling himself out of the London trip. But Ireland felt they came away from their win over Wales realising they have a potential alternative right under their nose if Sexton and Burns are ruled out and a change is needed.
Dropped as the starting Ireland scrum-half to accommodate the first start for Jamison Gibson-Park, it wasn’t until the 65th minute that Conor Murray was required by coach Farrell. It wasn’t to replace Gibson-Park either, as an emergency No10 was needed.
Relive the moments of tonight’s game here! ??#AutumnNationsCup https://t.co/YaVDiuryCJ
— Autumn Nations Cup ? (@autumnnations) November 13, 2020
Come full-time, Murray trooped off having played a confident part in pushing out a 19-9, ten-point lead out to the comfortable 23-point winning margin that Ireland’s overall performance had merited. The impressive cameo wasn’t lost on Farrell.
“He thinks he’s is fly-half already,” he said of Murray, who kicked eight points for good measure while orchestrating the late Ireland flourish that eventually did justice on the scoreboard to their dominance. “He did pretty well, didn’t he?
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“Conor’s played there before for us. He is a smart rugby player, he understands what is going on across the backline, not just as a half-back, and he steered the ship really well for us. He is a genuine option there definitely.”
Sexton, who suggested his hamstring issue didn’t feel too serious, added: “Conor played well. Sometimes when you’re there for so long in Conor’s case, people try and find niggles that aren’t there. Conor came on and showed some great stuff at No10.”
The last time Ireland didn’t have Sexton available to start at Twickenham, Ross Byrne, the recent sub out-half in the Six Nations games with Italy and France, was chosen at No10 and he endured a torrid time. England easily won an August 2019 pre-World Cup friendly 57-15 and the limp performance resulted in the Leinster back-up losing out on World Cup selection.
“Yeah, I’ll say it to him [Farrell] and see how he reacts,” said Murray when asked if he would be interested in wearing the No1o jersey. “Genuinely I have been in the team for a while now and training and playing at this level week in week out with the tens outside you, having a bit of an understanding of what they are wanting from you as a No9 did make it a little bit easier just slotting in one position over… it was enjoyable.“
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Caelan Doris wasn't the only Irish player to catch the eye #IREvWAL #AutumnNationsCup https://t.co/54CLU2Hjp8
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 13, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
I remember towards the end of the original broadcasting deal for Super rugby with Newscorp that there was talk about the competition expanding to improve negotiations for more money - more content, more cash. Professional rugby was still in its infancy then and I held an opposing view that if Super rugby was a truly valuable competition then it should attract more broadcasters to bid for the rights, thereby increasing the value without needing to add more teams and games. Unfortunately since the game turned professional, the tension between club, talent and country has only grown further. I would argue we’re already at a point in time where the present is the future. The only international competitions that matter are 6N, RC and RWC. The inter-hemisphere tours are only developmental for those competitions. The games that increasingly matter more to fans, sponsors and broadcasters are between the clubs. Particularly for European fans, there are multiple competitions to follow your teams fortunes every week. SA is not Europe but competes in a single continental competition, so the travel component will always be an impediment. It was worse in the bloated days of Super rugby when teams traversed between four continents - Africa, America, Asia and Australia. The percentage of players who represent their country is less than 5% of the professional player base, so the sense of sacrifice isn’t as strong a motivation for the rest who are more focused on playing professional rugby and earning as much from their body as they can. Rugby like cricket created the conundrum it’s constantly fighting a losing battle with.
3 Go to commentsOh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
26 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
3 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
3 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
7 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
26 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
26 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to comments