Murphy moving on from France error

A PREVIEW copy of the RTÉ’s “Reaching for Glory: Inside Irish rugby 07” was passed amongst the press core in Santa Fe last week, but one player who probably wouldn’t have appreciated a viewing was Geordan Murphy.

His tours-de-force against antipodean giants, South Africa and Australia, during the Autumn International series now appear to have been overtaken by a missed tackle against France, one that allowed Raphael Ibanez through for a first half try.

Somehow he was painted as the scapegoat by some commentators but it was surprising that some stronger criticism came from the season’s most consistent player Ronan O’Gara. We were watching a thoughtful O’Gara reflecting on a season as someone whose standards and expectations have sky-rocketed in the last 12 months. But he seemed particularly bothered by Murphy’s error.