When Ireland take to the famous Wembley pitch this weekend, they’re expecting it to be a downgrade on their training ground.
Joe Schmidt’s men have been preparing for their second Pool D game against Romania by putting in the hours at St George’s Park and it’s safe to say that they’re happy with the facilities.
Skills coach Richie Murphy has praised the surface of the training pitches in Burton and wouldn’t be surprised if they’re superior to Wembley on Sunday.
“I think the training pitch might even be better than Wembley,” Murphy said on Wednesday. “It’s that good it’s ridiculous.
“The standard is incredible.
“The guys can get used to running on top of the ground, it’s a firm track, it’s a big track, and it’s a perfect way to prepare.”
While St. George’s Park may be home to an amazing surface, Murphy admits that there is no way to replicate the atmosphere that Ireland will experience on Sunday afternoon.
“The one thing you won’t recreate is the effect of the stands and the stadium.
“We’ll deal with that today as long as we get it right on the weekend.”
