Murphy tips team-mate Morris for Ireland honours

GEORDAN MURPHY reckons Leicester team-mate Niall Morris is on the fast-track to the Ireland side — and has tipped the youngster to show why against Ulster this evening.

The 23-year-old wing joined Leicester from Leinster in the summer on a two-year deal, and has made a fine start to his Tigers career, scoring four tries in nine games for the club — including one on his Heineken Cup debut against Aironi last weekend. But he faces a tough test against an Ulster side that will be on a high after last weekend’s stunning 16-11 victory over Clermont Auvergne. Yet Murphy insists Morris is a fine talent and could make all the difference against an Ulster side bidding to build on last season’s run to the Heineken Cup quarter-finals.

“Niall’s a quality player,” said Murphy, who insists he has given no further thought to his own international future after hinting he is likely to retire from Ireland duty before the Six Nations.