Conor Murray is stone-cold.
There was a moment near the end of the first half, in Munster’s 20-19 win over Toulon, when Munster had a penalty near the halfway line. Referee Nigel Owens was playing advantage but Murray only had Sam Arnold off his left shoulder.
Every other Munster player was either at his feet, in a ruck, or to his right. Murray assessed the situation and, in a slit second, made his call.
He lifted the ball and tried a grubber straight up the pitch but it ricocheted off Eric Escande, his opposite number. No matter, Owens called played back for the penalty. Murray knew the situation and he knew the play.
Less than five minutes before that [of actual game time, not TMO video replays] and Murray had turned the contest on its’ head.
Credit: Sky SportsToulon were under the pump and desperately scrambling; trying to work some space for Escande or Anthony Belleau to make a clearing kick. They did this well on at least three occasions during the match but, leading 6-0, this was not one of those occasions.
Hooker Guilhelm Guirado went to make a carry less than a yard from his tryline but dropped the ball. It did not go forward but Murray was on it regardless.
To see live, it looks as though the Munster players had spotted a knock on and Murray was pouncing on the ball to stop Toulon from squirrelling it away. With each and every replay on the big screens at Thomond Park – and there were plenty – it became clear that Murray was well aware of what he needed to do.
He hawked the base of the ruck and immediately spotted Guirado drop the ball. It was here that Murray looked up and caught the eye of referee Nigel Owens, letting him know of the infraction.
Murray was not content with leaving this one to catch. He then dived on the ball, dotted it down and told the match officials that the score was his.
With everyone else asking ‘What just happened?’, Murray beckoned his Munster teammates to head back to their own half. That’s a try lads.
It took the TMO an age but e eventually reached the correct decision – try Munster. On commentary duty for Sky Sports, former England and Lions outhalf Stuart Barnes described the try as a “freak” score.
Barnes saying it was a freak try. Rubbish.. was a player on top of his game who knows the laws and playing to them. Great score from Murray#rugby #MUNvRCT #ChampionsCup #Munster
— Gary (@LardAlmighty) March 31, 2018
Far from it. Murray was just operating on another plane.
Following the match, Munster captain Peter O’Mahony confirmed that standpoint to us. He said:
“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.”
Brains and balls.
Barnes was very appreciative of Murray and his Munster teammates, during the match, but there was nothing freakish about that try. Just a lad who is at the very top of his game.
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