Murray: You have to be selfish in this game

CONOR MURRAY has admitted there is no room for sentiment when it comes to the starting Munster scrum-half position.

Rising star Murray, 22, is the current incumbent of the red number nine jersey, holding his place ahead of the claims of Tomás O’Leary and Duncan Williams and having temporarily seen off veteran international Peter Stringer, currently on loan at Saracens.

Murray, expected to be named today in the province’s starting line-up for tomorrow’s Heineken Cup clash with Pool 1 rivals Castres at Thomond Park (3.40pm), remains a big fan and eager student of Stringer’s but makes no apologies for wishing to be Munster’s first-choice scrum-half.

“I suppose that’s the way it goes,” Murray said. “There’s people coming through the system and we’re just waiting to get our chance.

“You can’t really be concerned about other people in your position, you have to be quite selfish and at the end of the day you’re trying your best to get onto the pitch. You’re not going to wait for other people to go in front of you. Maybe that’s a part of it but that’s the way it goes.”

Stringer will be involved in Saracens’ Pool 5 home game against group rivals Biarritz Olympique on Sunday, with his loan move to the English Premiership causing a stir beyond Munster. Biarritz and France star Dimitri Yachvili admitted this week he could not understand why the 34-year-old had been deemed surplus to requirements at both Munster and Ireland.

Murray’s rise to prominence over the last 12 months has had a lot to do with that but the Garryowen scrum-half said he still had much to learn from Stringer. “I didn’t hear those [Yachvili] comments but Strings is still an absolutely quality player and he’s in unbelievable nick. If he was here he’d be one of the fittest and strongest here for his body weight,” Murray said.

“He’s still got an enormous amount to offer, he’s still a great player and in terms of advice and learning from him I still have a huge amount to learn from him and his unbelievable experience in the game.”

Murray is striving to gain as much experience as possible having signed his first contract last Spring. A surprise selection for Ireland’s World Cup squad, he started the quarter-final against Wales last October and has cemented his place with Munster.

“I’m contracted with Munster at the moment and for next season as well. That’s my first professional deal and I’m very happy where I am playing with Munster, so there’s no problems.”