Conor Murray is operating at a whole other level from every other scrum-half in Europe.
In world terms, only Aaron Smith of New Zealand comes anywhere close to touching him.
By the end of 2018, we may be acclaiming Murray as the world’s very best player. Right now, he is well on track for the World Rugby best player accolade and the coming months could put him over that line and out of sight.
There is a lot of rugby to play before the end-of-year gongs are handed out but Murray will be perfectly happy with where he is right now. Munster and Irish fans are exactly the same.
After 27 minutes at Thomond Park, Murray displayed the sort of game awareness and hyper alertness that makes him so very dangerous. Toulon had just survived an almighty Munster heave and were plotting an exit from their 22 when Guilhelm Guirado spilled a ball in their ruck.
Murray waved at the touch judge and referee Nigel Owens to show them what had happened. The ball could have went forward or back but Murray knew it was live and he pounced on it.
It may have taken untold [at least 25] replays but the Television Match Official eventually saw sense and the try was awarded. Ian Keatley converted and a battered Munster suddenly led 7-6. It was a seismic moment in an absolutely thrilling match.
Following Munster’s 20-19 win over Toulon, we asked captain Peter O’Mahony what was going through his head, and that of his teammates, as big screen replays showed that Murray had just done something incredible.
O’Mahony told us:
“It’s a very intelligent try. We were taking the mick out of him inside there, saying it was a handy one, but you’ve got to be switched on for something like that.
“That’s the type of player he is – very bright, very diligent.
“And, you know, a lot of guys wouldn’t even have the balls to go and do it, because there’s a potential for you to get called for offside. You’ve got a team under the pump, on their tryline, and that would be one of the last things you’d want to do.
“But he’s very bright and it was certainly a very intelligent try.”
Too right it was.
The season is six months old and there are a rake of big games to come but Conor Murray keeps finding ways to amaze us.
