“It’s not us against Conor Murray, it’s us against Ireland.”
So says Scotland fullback Stuart Hogg but that does not mean Conor Murray is going into Ireland’s Six Nations as a targeted man.
The Muster and Ireland scrum-half is right up there as the best in the business right now. He has steadily improved as a Test player since his debut in August 2011 and, for the past four years, is on top of his game.
If Murray is humming, so too are Ireland. Witness his stellar performances against South Africa in Cape Town and New Zealand in Chicago. Exhibits C, D, E (etc.) are just about every time he steps onto the pitch in a Munster jersey.
Murray had a fine game for Munster in their Champions Cup fixture against Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun. Munster’s game-plan was stymied somewhat, however, by some up close and personal treatment from a raft of Glasgow players.
There was some niggle [pushing, obstructing, verbal abuse] that Murray would expect but the late hits and tackles around is standing legs, as he was executing clearances and box-kicks, infuriated Munster coach Jerry Flannery and ‘pissed off’ Murray.
There is no love lost between Munster and Glasgow this season and with plenty of players in the respective Ireland and Scotland Six Nations squads, expect some of that needle to spill over into the upcoming championship.
As far as Hogg is concerned, nothing changes in terms of Scotland’s plans and preparations. He said:
“We do nothing different to Conor Murray than we do to any other nine. We’re just looking to apply as much pressure as we can.
“The [recent Glasgow and Munster feud] might be in the back of some folk’s minds but for myself and the rest of the boys, we’ll just be getting on with the job in hand.”
The job in hand also includes the Scots expecting the worst and training 14 vs. 15 in the lead-up to the championship. The newly toughened tackle laws may lead to an increase in yellow and red cards so Scotland are hard at it.
“We have prepared for playing with 14 men,” said defence coach Matt Taylor. “We have a plan in place for how we’ll defend when we’re a man down”
