Farewell to braveheart Jerry Murray, a true giant of Munster rugby

On a week when Paul O’Connell worked wonders for the reputation of grizzled second-row forwards, another great presence in Munster rugby passed away peacefully after a long period of illness.

The thing that resonates with me most about O’Connell is not the amazing consistency and continual standards of excellence he displays at the very top level but his grounded nature and the close association he still maintains with the grassroots of the game in the province.

It is well over a decade since O’Connell lined out with any degree of regularity for Young Munster but he has never forgotten the role the club played in his early development, and how it helped shape the characteristics that forge his, at times, old stage approach to all matters rugby.