He’s got faith.
We love to see it; we love to hear it.
As if by magic, Jordi Murphy is up to 11 Test caps and is a virtual lock for Ireland’s World Cup squad.
Quite a feat for a guy who was on a €4,000-a-year academy contract around the turn of 2013.
Murphy made his Ireland debut against England, in Twickenham, during the 2014 Six Nations and has featured across the back row since. He started the 35-21 dismantling of Wales but has mainly done a job for Ireland off the bench [seven caps as a replacement].
The devastating injury to Tommy O’Donnell has all but assured his inclusion in Ireland’s 31-man squad but Jack Conan’s handy debut, Chris Henry’s presence and the ability of Iain Henderson to cover the back row muddies the water a tad.
Nonetheless, Murphy is confident he will be at the World Cup.
‘You have to back yourself,’ he said at the launch of Leinster’s 2015/16 jerseys. ‘Everybody has to think the same way.
‘There are enough people out there doubting you, outside of your own head, so you have to give yourself the best possible chance to succeed.
‘You are in the environment, in the first place, as you are a good enough player. You just have to believe in your performances in the past. You’ve got to back yourself, 100%.
‘Obviously, you can’t just say it. You have to go out and do it.’
The new alternate jersey, by @canterburyNZ.#CommittedToLeinster pic.twitter.com/GE4KYlQGE5
— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) August 18, 2015
Ireland’s must-win game of their pool stage should be the France clash at the Millennium Stadium.
Murphy only caught flashes of France’s 19-14 loss to England, last Saturday night, but will tune in to Les Bleus this weekend.
He says, ‘It always the case. If France don’t go well in the Six Nations, they always seem to go well in a World Cup.
‘They have always been there or thereabouts – finals and semi-finals. They are never the team you want to write off.’
*To celebrate the launch of the 2015/16 jerseys, Canterbury have asked fans to prove why they are Leinster’s most committed fan on Canterbury’s Facebook page or by tweeting using #CommittedToLeinster.
