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Sexton on the 'biggest problem' for Conor Murray

By Online Editors
(Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Ireland captain Johnny Sexton insists “marked man” Conor Murray is doing enough to justify his starting role for the Guinness Six Nations.

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Scrum-half Murray was previously one of the first names on the teamsheet for his country but his place has come under increasing threat due to a dip in form and the standout performances of John Cooney.

The 30-year-old Munster player has once again been given the nod over Ulster man Cooney for Saturday’s clash with Wales, despite an unconvincing display in the opening-weekend win over Scotland.

Fly-half Sexton felt long-standing half-back partner Murray performed well against the Scots, while suggesting his team-mate has become a victim of his own success.

Continue reading below…

WATCH: Andy Farrell and Jonathan Sexton spoke to the press following Ireland’s 19-12 win over Scotland at the Aviva Stadium.

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“When those opportunities present themselves, or if they present themselves, I’m sure he’ll be ready to go,” replied Sexton when asked about Murray not being as threatening around the ruck.

“But I don’t think they did last week. Some of that was the speed of ball. We were playing a lot off unstructured play.

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“Conor has scope to go and snipe. But international rugby, it doesn’t always open up.

“It’s not like provincial rugby or even some Heineken Cup games. It’s proper Test match rugby. Last week was a proper Test match.

Munster Champions Cup
Conor Murray winces following Munster’s loss to Racing 92 (Getty Images)

“The biggest problem for Conor is he’s had those games where he’s ripped up the All Blacks in Chicago (in 2016), but then you become a marked man. Then sometimes the space isn’t there.

“It’s not as simple as, ‘Why didn’t that work? He didn’t do it this game.’

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“He played really well last week. I’m sure he’ll play well again this week.”

Wales cross the Irish Sea as reigning Grand Slam champions after completing last year’s tournament clean sweep by crushing Ireland 25-7 in Cardiff.

Skipper Sexton admits that emphatic defeat at the Principality Stadium still stings and expects a fiery showdown in Dublin.

“We were going for a championship, they were going for a Grand Slam. We got well beaten out of the gate, a very disappointing day,” said Sexton.

“Any time you lose for Ireland it never leaves you, you think about it a lot and that was one of those days.

“On Lions tours and stuff, I’ve played with a lot of the (Wales) guys and got some great relationships with most of them.

“But on the pitch they’re a proud nation, we’re a proud nation, and no-one wants to take a backwards step. I’m sure it will be no different on Saturday.”

While Ireland began Andy Farrell’s reign as head coach by stuttering past the Scots 19-12, the Welsh blew away perennial Wooden Spoon winners Italy with a bonus-point victory which stylishly launched the Wayne Pivac era.

New Zealander Pivac, who succeeded compatriot Warren Gatland after last year’s World Cup, enjoyed plenty of battles against Irish sides in the Guinness PRO14 during a five-year stint with Scarlets, which included victory over Munster in the 2016-17 final.

Leinster man Sexton admits Pivac’s style of play has the potential to cause plenty of problems having been on the receiving end at club level.

“It’s new, when you’re playing against a team coached by someone different,” said 34-year-old Sexton.

“We’re so used to playing against Warren and his way of playing and it posed us big problems and we had great battles over the years.

“Now a new coach coming in, you can see already some of the ideas they have and we’ve played against him when he coached Scarlets, so we know some of the way they’re going to play.

“At times we have struggled against that style of play, when it was Leinster for example in the semi-final we lost to them, and Munster lost in the final to them.

“I’m sure they will be talking about that, or Wayne will and we have to be ready for that style of play.”

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J
Jon 1 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

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j
john 3 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

15 Go to comments
A
Adrian 5 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

15 Go to comments
T
Trevor 8 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
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