Andy Farrell says he’s “in awe” of Conor Murray after handing the scrum-half a uncommon begin on the event of his a hundredth Test cap for Ireland.
Munster man Murray will develop into his nation’s eighth centurion on Saturday when world champions South Africa go to a sold-out Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
The 33-year-old has been a mainstay of the Irish staff for greater than a decade after making his worldwide debut in opposition to France in 2011 however has slipped behind Jamison Gibson-Park within the pecking order up to now yr.
Despite proscribing him to only one begin because the 2021 Six Nations, head coach Farrell hailed Murray as a “top-class bloke” and a “legend of Irish rugby” throughout a glowing tribute.
“It’s pretty special because we all know that to be able to get to that type of milestone what it really does take,” mentioned Farrell.
“When you’re a coach or when you’re a player, you see all the ups and downs and all the pressures that come in from all sorts of directions and you see everyone wants to move on to what they perceive to be the next best thing.
“I just think somebody who stands up to be counted time and time again, to get to a point like that, I’m in awe of it because the hardest thing is to stay at the top.
“Of course there are ups and downs but the biggest compliment I could pay Conor – he’s a legend of Irish rugby and his abilities are second to none – is that he is a top, top-class bloke.
“I don’t know anyone who has a bad word to say about him.
“We are all obsessed with rugby but when it comes to how he has managed himself throughout his career- and there are big things still to come – he is classed as a fantastic human being by his peers.”
Murray will be a part of Brian O’Driscoll, Ronan O’Gara, Rory Best, Cian Healy, Paul O’Connell, John Hayes and captain Johnny Sexton on the unique listing of Ireland centurions.
Yet he has not began at worldwide stage since victory over Argentina final autumn.
Leinster’s Gibson-Park has to accept a spot on the bench in opposition to the Springboks, having not performed competitively because the collection win in New Zealand in July as a result of a hamstring difficulty.
With Ireland in kind and at present prime of the worldwide rankings, Murray faces a problem to dislodge Gibson-Park on a everlasting foundation forward of subsequent yr’s World Cup.
“He’s a tough old character, Conor,” mentioned Farrell. “He’s steely strong mentally and he cares a lot about his own game and he gets a chance now to show us how he wants to push forward.
“It’s a respectful, competitive battle. Conor has been an unbelievable ear for Jamison because of his experience.
“You would definitely think that Conor would be thinking, ‘I’ll just leave him alone and let him find out for himself’ but Conor has been all over, helping Jamison be the player that Jamison has been from the start. He’s a fantastic human being.
“And Jamison, over the last 10 days, has been exactly the same back and that’s exactly what we want in our environment.”
Farrell has made two enforced modifications for the South Africa conflict, with centre Garry Ringrose and wing Robert Baloucoune coming in for the suspended Bundee Aki and the injured James Lowe.
Ulster wing Baloucoune is about to win a 3rd Test cap after a torn hip tendon dominated him out of the All Blacks tour.
“We feel he is ready, that he can offer something different,” Farrell mentioned of the 25-year-old.
“It’s up to Rob – and his team-mates helping him – to grab the opportunity and show what he is about at the top level.”
Source: www.unbiased.co.uk