Murphy keen to kick on with Schmidt

Richie Murphy admits he would be interested in continuing his working relationship with Joe Schmidt when the Kiwi takes over with Ireland next season but insists he will continue to clock in at Leinster regardless of what may happen.

The former Leinster out-half isn’t the most high-profile name in Irish coaching circles but his work has gained a following since joining the province as kicking coach in 2010 — a role which has since expanded to one incorporating skills as well.

Murphy has been central to the development of men like Jonathan Sexton, Ian Madigan and Fergus McFadden. It was notable, for instance, that Sexton phoned him frequently from New Zealand during the last World Cup when his kicking was off kilter.

A former Rugby Development and Elite Player Development officer with the province, Murphy’s star will continue to rise next month when he travels to Georgia as backs coach to Allen Clarke’s Emerging Ireland team that will participate in the IRB Tbilisi Cup.

With no indication that Mark Tainton will be asked to continue on as kicking coach under Schmidt after Declan Kidney’s departure, Murphy would appear well-placed given his burgeoning cv.

Neither would his Irish birth certificate be expected to curb the chances of being added to a ticket that is expected to include a Kiwi head coach and, in Les Kiss, an Australian assistant just for starters.

“It is something that hasn’t really come up yet,” Murphy said yesterday ahead of Leinster’s Amlin Challenge Cup final against Stade Francais at the RDS on Friday evening.

“At the moment, we are just trying to get ourselves through these next couple of weeks. Anybody would be interested in it, working with the Irish team. The one thing I would say is I am contracted to Leinster for next year.

“I don’t see that changing. It was only last week I was asked would I travel (to Georgia) as backs coach. I am looking forward to it. It is a great opportunity to do more coaching.”

Murphy was able to confirm that Gordon D’Arcy’s season is over due to a calf injury but the latest on Brian O’Driscoll’s back spasms was less assuring than that delivered by Schmidt 24 hours earlier.

“Brian is recovering,” said Murphy. “It is a little bit slower than we would have liked. It is still progressing reasonably well. A decision won’t be made on him until later on in the week.”

O’Driscoll has suffered this particular injury on a handful of occasions before and always recovered within two days so his failure to shake the latest off in that timeframe is hardly ideal given Leinster’s place in two upcoming finals and the small matter of a Lions tour to follow.

Everyone else is reportedly fine, including Fergus McFadden who started on the wing against the Warriors last Saturday before being parachuted into 13 when O’Driscoll was forced off after a dozen minutes.

For McFadden, it was merely the latest redeployment in a long line of them and he seemed unfazed by such a nomadic existence as he looked forward to the contest with the French giants.

“I don’t care where as long as I’m playing,” said McFadden, who may be preferred on the wing what with Ian Madigan available to slot in at 12. “With these huge games it is just great to be involved, wherever Joe puts me I’ll be ready. I just want to be involved and put some medals in my back pocket regardless of where I play.”