“I think we’ve five from Munster, which is a number we’d like to get up.”
The Ireland squad for the upcoming Six Nations Championship – including development players – breaks down as follows; 24 Leinster, 7 Connacht, 5 Munster, 4 Ulster.
It is no surprise in 2025 that Leinster are the overwhelming majority, with eight front row forwards epitomising their dominance.
However, Munster fans will feel particularly aggrieved, given that they are clearly the second best province, and with top players such as Oli Jager, Tom Ahern, Tom Farrell, John Hodnett, Alex Kendellen, and Gavin Coombes missing out.
In an interview with the recently-retired English winger Anthony Watson, on the For The Love Of Rugby podcast, Munster scrum-half Conor Murray discussed being in Ireland camp with so many of his rivals at club level.
Many players, past and present, have spoken about the intensity of the Munster-Leinster rivalry in the early 21st century, and how it has softened as the years went by.
Murray agreed and pointed out that Ireland’s success from 2009 onwards was the main reason for the dilution of the rivalry.
He said: “Once we started winning with Ireland it kind of stopped, the Munster, Leinster [rivalry]. Obviously Ulster and Connacht were there, but there was a big rivalry between Munster and Leinster.
“As soon as we started getting success with Ireland, it all went out the window. You can talk about cultures and environments and all that, but winning brings everyone together more than anything.
“I genuinely believe that once we started winning things with Ireland, that beef went.
“From my perspective, I’ve been in the squad quite a while. I know a lot of these Leinster lads pretty well and I’m very good friends with a lot of them.
“So going into camp is nice, you’re going into camp with your friends.”
Murray also touched on the complaints from fans about the amount of Leinster players in the squad, but explained that they are the ‘standard bearers’.
He added: “I think we’ve five from Munster, which is a number we’d like to get up.
“But Leinster have been the standard bearers in Europe for the last number of years, they’re a quality outfit.
“Fans will say there’s selection things and this, that and the other. But I think being in camp with them, you can see up close that Leinster lads are driving the standards.
“It makes you want to go into camp and perform because they’re coming off beating everyone every week, bonus points, and you want to come in and try and live up to their standards.
“So it’s good for everyone else in there if you know what I mean.”
