Munster’s derby delight as Murray rejoins fray

Conor Murray is set for his first start of the season on Saturday with head coach Rob Penney calling the Lions star “one of the best half-backs in the world” ahead of the showdown with Leinster at Thomond Park.

Speaking at the Irish launch of this season’s Heineken Cup campaign, with Munster visiting Edinburgh on October 12, Penney spoke of a wish to lay down an early marker against RaboDirect Pro12 champions Leinster this weekend, with Murray’s probable return a significant boost in that objective.

Murray, 24, was due back last Saturday against Newport Gwent Dragons before a toe injury intervened, but he returned to training yesterday and Penney confirmed his first-choice No 9 was available.

“Conor’s bouncing back quickly, strongly,” Penney said. “He’ll just need to be managed but he’s pleased enough with the progress.

“Conor’s grown into one of the best half-backs in the world and his influence on us can’t be understated. When it comes to the big games you need your big boys to step up and Conor’s one of those now. Conor coming back now is a real boost for the group.”

There was more good news for Penney as tighthead prop BJ Botha also returned to training following a knee injury, while Paul O’Connell and Felix Jones both reported no ill effects following their seasonal debuts in the win over the Dragons. That news gave Penney further optimism that Munster can meet fire with fire in their first inter-provincial clash of the season.

“It’s very, very exciting. That was one of the big learnings for me last year, the ferocity of the derby matches. The way in which they were approached by both sides, no matter who you’re playing from within Ireland, I think the intensity is right up there next to Test rugby and top-end Heineken and when you’re playing a side like Leinster with all the gifted athletes they have in the group you’re going to have to be at that intensity to be challenging for the points.

“We’re very keen to set down a little marker to say, ‘Munster’s here and ready’.”

Meanwhile, Leinster captain Leo Cullen has expressed his ambition to move into coaching on the back of suggestions he could replace the departing Jono Gibbes as forwards guru with the province next season.

However, the 35-year old lock is currently focusing on returning to fitness having undergone surgery on an Achilles injury which has kept him sidelined so far this season.

“I certainly would love to do it at some point,” Cullen admitted. “At the moment my head is in a different place because I’m currently not playing and my priority is to get back playing. I haven’t enjoyed watching the games from the sideline. So, yeah, I am trying to work as hard as I can to get back as soon as I can.”

Mark McCall, Simon Easterby and William Servat are among those who have made a more or less direct transition from playing to coaching at the one club and Leinster’s head coach Matt O’Connor clearly believes it is possible Cullen could do likewise.

“Leo and I haven’t had the opportunity to sit down and talk about the ins and outs of it but you would be mad not to look at Leo because what he has done in the environment has been second to none and in Leinster rugby.

“You can’t buy that. there is certainly a conversation to be had down the road.”