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'The end of the game shows the character that is in this team'
Richie Murphy has quickly looked past the disappointment of seeing his Ireland U20s no longer being able to challenge for a third successive Six Nations Grand Slam, instead setting his sights on securing another championship title when they play Scotland in Cork next Friday.
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The Irish only managed a 32-all draw away to England in Bath, but scratching the surface of that stalemate they were the team that came away from The Rec smiling. They trailed 32-25 after Ben Waghorn’s 77th-minute converted try left them poised for defeat.
However, despite knowing their chance to win the match and keep alive their Grand Slam ambition had been dashed, they still worked their way down the pitch and saw Luke Murphy score an 83rd-minute try that was converted by Sean Naughton to seal the draw.
Not only did this outcome dash England’s Grand Slam hopes, it vaulted Ireland back into the title race. They are currently just a point behind the English on the table with every chance of taking the title on the final night.
Mark Mapletoft’s side must go to France, the World Junior Championship champions, while Murphy’s Ireland play host to Scotland, the Six Nations bottom side. Adding to the tension of this finale will be the fact that the Irish kick off an hour earlier than the English do in Pau.
“Title is still up for grabs,” enthused Murphy to RugbyPass by the tunnel at The Rec following an enthralling nine-try thriller. “England go to France, everyone knows how tough that will be. We have Scotland at home so all we can do is look after our stuff, try and get a win at home, try and maybe get a bonus point and that gives us a chance of seeing out the championship.
“It [the Grand Slam] is something that the lads will be disappointed about because it is a game we could have won and probably should have won in some ways.
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“You have just got to move on. These things happen, you have got to move on. There is plenty to play for. The championship is the big thing really, so you know you have got to after that now.”
Reflecting on what had unfolded in round four against an opposition Ireland drew 34-all with last June in Paarl at the age-grade World Cup, Murphy reckoned: “Incredible game of rugby. It kept swinging back and forth, 20s rugby kind of does that a bit.
“Just after half-time getting the score, I thought we might have been just a little more clinical at our end being able to get out – we just brought some pressure back onto us.
“England’s power game sort of kicked in in that second half as well and we found it hard to handle them, but I suppose the end of the game shows the character that is in this team. So extremely proud of them. Delighted for them that they have given themselves a chance on the last day because they deserve it.
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“The skill set of the players was incredible. Some of the decision-making and some of the nativity in how they want to play all the time probably needs to be nurtured a little bit, so try and tidy up a little bit of that this week going into Scotland.
“But we are looking forward to getting back to a full house in Virgin Media Park down in Cork and finishing off this championship. The great thing for these guys is they have a junior world cup just around the corner so plenty of rugby still to play for them.”
"Early on it was a little bit different…"
– Richie Murphy on the dynamic of having son Jack as his Ireland U20s Six Nations out-half, from Liam Heagney ?? at The Rec #U6N20 #IrelandRugby #EnglandRugby #ENGvIRE #rugby pic.twitter.com/TPBcdUP8R7
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 9, 2024
There were fears that Ireland’s scrum could be their downfall against the larger England front row, but the set-piece penalty count ended just three-two in favour of the hosts. “The lads did really well,” agreed Murphy.
“I have to commend the work that Aaron Dundon has done in there has been incredible. Boys really respond well to him and they have worked really hard in that area.
“Size-wise we were probably giving away a bit in the front row but the guys stuck at it and showed great fight and again it is something we can build on going forward.”
A novelty in this championship for the Irish has been coach Murphy having his son Jack play at out-half. What has the father-son dynamic been like now that it has been taken into a place of work?
“It’s actually been fine. Early on it was a little bit different but Jack comes into camp, I treat him like Jack and when we go home we try and have a father-and-son relationship.
“It isn’t the easiest thing in the world but he is quite a mature boy and we are very proud of the performance he put in from a father’s point of view and a mother’s point of view. His mum Stephanie will be delighted with him. We just move on to the next one.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Ireland are only the People’s Champions in Irish eyes. The rest of the world do not care for them very much because of attitudes of people like Gordon, Ferris, Best, Jackman…I could go on!!
3 Go to commentsNot sure how Karl Dickson can ever ref a Quins game, he played for the club for 8 years as understudy to Care and is still close friends with half the team
3 Go to commentsAre bookies taking bets on how many times Vunipola's eventual statement will use the term “elders"? My money is on at least 4 times.
4 Go to commentsSo Ireland will be tired, despite having the most rested test squad in the world. They only play tests, champions cup and urc play off games ffs! Case in point; Leinster sent a B squad to SA for their last two games while their first xv rested up and trained at their leisure for the sf vs Saints at the so called ‘neutral venue’ of Croke Park. So tired? Do me a favour… And as for “people’s champions”? Seriously??? Outside of Ireland they are respected for their ability to win 6N. And of course plenty of inconsequential test friendlies without any real pressure. WC ko games when the pressure is white hot? Not so much…
3 Go to commentsSurprising how standing down or benching a player can do wonders for their motivation. Several players this week in that category.
1 Go to commentsHaha lads lads lads, that’s how you have a holiday In Majorca
4 Go to commentshit on Lynagh was defo late and card-worthy. The other 2 are bang on OK. Hurts you at Test level if youre timing is off and the nostrils are flared. Jerry C knew when to lean in on one, Finau just needs to keep his discipline and head straight.
5 Go to commentsSlade was exceptional against Gloucester. Not only was he doing the classic Slade stuff of running amazing lines and timing passes to perfection to put his wingers into space, he was kicking goals, flying off the line smashing people and crashing into rucks like a flanker… his hair even looked on point. 😍
1 Go to commentsThat’s really sad, hope everyone involved is ok. At least he had pants on.
4 Go to commentsTo be fair it was nowhere bear the Leinster first team (for which, btw, Leinster copped nothing like the outrage that Jake White did for sending a rotated team to the UK). But it’s fun to watch the Stormers doing their thing. They are attracting big, diverse crowds of young fans, and deservedly so. Great to see.
1 Go to commentsIt might be legal but he’s sailing pretty close to the wind. Not a lot needs to go wrong for Finau to end up in the bin. Was it late? Not quite, but borderline. High? A couple of CM within the laws, no room for error with that one. Did he wrap the arms? There was a token effort to wrap one arm, the intent was clearly to hit with the shoulder. So yeah, it’s legal, just. But as we all know, a very slight change in the dynamics could easily have him seeing red. Hopefully not when it really matters.
5 Go to commentsCan we also show some love for Tane Edmed’s fantastic draw and pass? Put his body on the line and committed the defender before letting go of that pass. Flawless skill.
5 Go to commentsYou forget this is Rassie Erasmus who is still holding the Springbok keys. Even with Felix Jones orchestrating a really tight RWC SF last year. It still wasn't enough to get England past their particular Springbok Monkey in world cups. The reason is FJ was going off of what they did in 2019 not necessarily adapting to current Springboks. So yes, Australia can get passed England because let's be honest, England have a one track strategy, Springboks do not. Even with rush defense I wouldn't be surprised if Rassie continually tweaks it. Also bear in mind Rassie is happy to sacrifice a few mid year and inter World Cup matches to pin point how opposition plays and how to again tweak strategies to get his Springboks in peak performance for the next World Cup. As much as most teams like to win games in front of them and try to win everything, Rassie always makes sure to learn and train for the greatest showdown International Rugby has to offer. Tbh, most people remember World Cup wins and ignore intermediate losses as a result but will remember also WC losses, Ireland, even if they won games in the interim. So even if games are won against the Springboks, it's likely Rassie is just getting a feel for how opposition is moving and adapt accordingly…in time. For Rassie, a loss is never a loss because he uses it as a chance to learn and improve. Sometimes during a game, again like the England match in last year's Semi Final.
7 Go to commentsDanny don't care. He pretends to care but he don't. He says all this stuff to justify his reasoning but no one can claim that legitimately. He knew exactly what he was doing and wondered if his old team mate would overlook it, which he did. Ref has got to be sidelined or properly trained. It's one thing for refs to move up the ranks but if it was me I would require refs to either have played in different clubs or not at all having the temptation to bias in high stakes games like this. This has got to be stamped out. But then again World Rugby is so destroying the game of rugby in an attempt to be more “safe” and “concussion free”. What they are doing is making it more infuriating for the fans and more difficult for the refs to officiate evenly and consistently. It's fast become Australian Rules football. If guys don't want concussions, they should have played chess. Stop complaining you oldies of the game. When they played the game was vastly heavier hitting than it is now but of course they can't see that.
3 Go to commentsJa, why do Bulls get flack for not bringing their best but Leinster never bring their best and it goes “unnoticed”?
4 Go to commentsIt’ll be very interesting to see how Razor’s AB’s handle the new England rush D. It’s basically the Bok recipe they copied, so if England goes well then we know most likely the Boks will go well too. If England cops a hiding then we’ll have to study and adapt.
7 Go to commentsTypical trait of an australian is to moan. Goes well with there lack of humbleness as evident by the Reds bench on the weekend.
5 Go to commentsSBW’s bro’town commentary and lazy default to hyperbole should be ignored, a technical analyst he is not. Sotutu is a good player when games get goosey loosey, high skill set that fans of Zinzan recall with starry eyes. But you need power and mongrel at no8 in the Test arena and Sotutu gets found wanting there, much like Akira Ioane. No8’s like Zinzan and Ardie have bucketloads of mongrel and power and tenacity which allow the skill sets to flourish.
12 Go to commentsAn inside pass to attacker on the angle can make a drift defence look lead footed. Relies on fleet footed forward/s to get across from the breakdown. An argument for the smaller faster 7 perhaps?
7 Go to commentsSensational tackle. The reds one was late and rightly penalised. The other two were simultaneous with the pass. If nitpicking TMOs can’t find fault there clearly isn’t any.
5 Go to comments