Conor Murray versus Ben Youngs. There is more to this Saturday’s Champions Cup clash between Munster and Leicester [3:15pm kick-off] than two of the world’s best 9’s sniping at each other but this will be a fascinating watch.
Aaron Smith may have tentatively held the title of rugby’s best scrum-half, going into the autumn internationals, but there are two men duking it out now.
Conor Murray was a revelation in Ireland’s 40-29 victory over Smith’s All Blacks, in Chicago, and his performance was on the money when the Wallabies were [just about] sent packing. Ireland skills coach Richie Murphy said:
“As a nine he is one of the best in the business now. Physical in defence, good passing game, excellent kicking game, he reads the game very, very well.”
Add clutch penalty kicks against the world champions to the mix and you are talking a potent mix. Murray has been up there as world-class since 2012 but he has been right at the top of the game since the 2014 Six Nations and Ireland’s winning campaign.
Up against Murray in Limerick this weekend is a man who has done for Ireland a few times in the past and is a key player in England’s Grand Slam champions.
Ben Youngs was simply sensational in this year’s Six Nations and somehow upped those levels in the autumn internationals. He scored three tries for England, made lethal line breaks in each game and sold countless Aussies, Fijians and Argentines excellent dummies.
Youngs and Murray started the 2013 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia as understudies to Mike Phillips but their undoubted class shone through as the hosts were eventually dismissed.
Both Munster and Leicester Tigers packs will be seeking to lay down set-piece markers and there will be big hits all over the pitch. Winning collisions will be as crucial as ever but both men have shown they can heavily influence proceedings whether their front eight is thrumming or not.
Warren Gatland now has his Lions brains trust selected ahead of next summer’s tour to New Zealand and Murray vs. Youngs will be near top of their watching brief this weekend.
Neither man will win the Lions No.9 jersey on Saturday but being over-shadowed in these crucial back-to-back games will be noted with a big red pen.
Munster flanker CJ Stander is another provincial lynch-pin back from international duty and keen to get stuck in. Even though his thoughts were occupied by All Blacks and Wallabies, he kept a close eye on Munster’s results, and performances.
“I was at the Maori game [at Thomond Park],” he says. “The week before, you’re not training with the boys, you don’t know what’s going on, you don’t even know who’s going to play but Rassie [Erasmus] just brings a new dimension.
“He’s an unbelievable coach. He knows what other teams are going to do and bring before they get onto the pitch so you know by Monday what to do, the same thing as up here. He brings a lot of passion and he’s honest. I think that’s the biggest thing about him.”
Stander also mentions defence coach Jacques Nienaber, as well as Jerry Flannery and Felix Jones, and talks about the unstinting desire and belief they have brought to their respective roles. The spectre of Anthony Foley’s tragic October passing remains but it has infused this team with a renewed drive. Stander says:
“After Axel’s death I think we realised that we’re here now, we disappointed ourselves last year but we have an opportunity to do something.
“If it’s to play for Axel or if it’s playing for yourself or for the management or play for our jersey, that’s back. That’s something that I think we lacked a bit last year but it’s come back.”
Stander touches on a subject he mentioned after Munster dismantled Glasgow Warriors in their last Champions Cup fixture – boys turning into men during an excruciatingly tough week.
Munster will need those newly-forged men against Leicester Tigers. They will also need experienced performers like Murray and Stander.
Actually, they’ll need everyone. Tigers are that tough.
