Murray relishing steep learning curve

IT’S funny how things change. A year ago this weekend, for instance, as Munster’s world was about to come crashing down in Toulon, Conor Murray was at Meadow Lane in Nottingham, helping his fellow young Academy hopefuls and fringe players in the Munster A team eke out a 15-14 win in the British & Irish Cup.

Twelve months on and Munster are flying high in Europe once more and Murray is one of a sprinkling of those young hopefuls who is an integral part of Phoenix-like ascent.

Now the number one scrum-half for province and country and already with a World Cup under his belt, the 22-year-old Garryowen number nine is still on a steep learning curve but with yet another big-game start in the offing against Castres in the Heineken Cup tomorrow at Thomond Park (3:40pm) even the most modest of individuals must recognise they are heading in the right direction even if the route has been a little unorthodox.