We can beat anyone on our day, says Murray
The Ireland scrum-half is adamant the current Munster squad is as good as any they have had before and, on their day, capable of beating any other club.
That includes Toulon’s ‘League of Nations’ superstars.
The reigning European champions are rated eight-point favourites for the semi-final which is being held at Marseille’s Stade Velodrome on Sunday week, but Murray insists the visitors will bring far more than the clichéd old-fashioned blood and guts.
“Yeah, I suppose that’s the outside opinion of Munster at the moment,” said the MaxiNutrition ambassador. “It’s the traditional view people have of Munster: that we’re going to be underdogs and try to hang in there and hope for a result.
“Toulon are a fantastic side, they have superstars, but within our squad at the moment we rate each other really highly and on our day we can beat anyone. But we’re probably cursed by the old traditional view of Munster.
“We have a great pack. They’ve stood up again this year and made life easy for us, especially in the half-backs, really enjoyable. I’ve played a lot of games where I’ve been on the front foot and it’s been an armchair ride.
“So, the quality in our squad is right up there with what was there before.”
Munster go to the south of France 12 months after their oh-so-close effort at the same stage of the same competition when only six points separated them from an unbackable Clermont Auvergne at the Stade de la Mosson in Montpellier.
The current Munster crew is a superior outfit but Matt O’Connor has already said the ‘hosts’ will win while Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal has declared confidently that his men will not lose having seen off Leinster already.
“Yeah, that’s… interesting to hear,” said Murray. “Not that they haven’t a right to say it. Leinster have been the best province over the last few years and they are probably right to say that.
“But in our squad there is a… not a confidence, but we are fully aware of what we can do. If we really put our minds to it and get our minds right and not slip up in silly areas then we will be there or thereabouts.”
Murray’s confidence has seemingly been unaffected by last weekend’s drab PRO12 loss to Glasgow in Limerick, yet the side’s vast disparity between their highest of highs and lowest of lows is something he admits they must address.
This Saturday’s trip to Galway to face Connacht offers a shot at redemption and maybe even the chance to afford Murray game time at 10 what with the absence through injury of JJ Hanrahan and thus the need to provide back-up to Ian Keatley in France.
Murray spent a season at out-half with Garryowen, played 10 for the Munster U20s against Ulster and pointed out that Munster’s wide game plan already requires a fluidity of roles and positioning between the scrum-half and out-half.
Yet, this would be a different ball game altogether.
“You mightn’t think it is that different but it is another world out there so [it’s] just chatting to the backs outside you and what they are looking for. That’s the last few days, just feeling a bit comfortable there. If I am called on to go in there this week then great.”
Murray spoke respectfully of the need to see to business first and foremost at the Sportsground, as Rob Penney did earlier this week, and the hope is that there will be no emergency signal sent in his direction this week or next. Especially not with Keatley performing as he has been.
“If you look at Ian he’s taken a real leadership role with Munster this year,” said his regular scrum-half partner. “He’s driving meetings, backs meetings and whole squad-meetings, whatever it might be.
“He fully understands the gameplan we’re trying to play and that’s a non-negotiable when you’re the 10. They’re predominantly the drivers on the pitch. There are other areas where decision-making is crucial but he’s done really well for us with how he’s played.
“His place-kicking percentages are right up there so he’s really having a good year.”
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