He is really making a difference on the 2017 Lions Tour.
One Kiwi reporter recently described the surgical strikes of Conor Murray’s high bomb box-kicks as ‘Groundhog Day without the laughs’.
The locals may be groaning at Auckland’s Eden Park on Saturday but Lions fans will be more than happy if Murray plagues the All Blacks like he has Crusaders and the Maori.
The Munster and Ireland scrum-half returned for the conclusion of his team’s Guinness PRO12 campaign and proved his fitness. Now he is proving his class.
Rhys Webb got off to a good start on the 2017 tour to New Zealand but the moment Murray stepped out against Crusaders, in Christchurch, all debates were settled.
Many Welsh fans may be upset at the likes of Sam Warburton, George North and Leigh Halfpenny missing out on the Test XV, but few are grumbling about Murray starting ahead of Webb this weekend.
Wales Online reporter Simon Thomas is in New Zealand for the tour and, on Thursday morning, he took part in a Q&A about the upcoming Test Series. Asked who he believes the first name on Gatland’s team-sheet, he mentioned Tadhg Furlong but settled on Murray. He replied:
‘Well I think there are candidates – Conor Murray, Tadhg Furlong, George Kruis and Taulupe Faletau. Murray brings the control at No. 9, Furlong is the scrum cornerstone, Kruis the lineout master and Faletau the exemplary back row all rounder.
‘A tough call, but I will go for Murray as he is the man who has caused the opposition the biggest headache on tour with his pinpoint tactical kicking, which is such a huge part of the Lions’ game-plan.
‘He is also probably the Lion with the best case for a place in a current world team.’
We’re not arguing with that call.
Hopefully Murray proves Thomas and ourselves right again against a fearsome All Blacks.
