Murray key to Ireland’s destiny

RBS Six Nations: Italy v Ireland: A fit and functioning Conor Murray holds the key to a successful start to Ireland’s RBS 6 Nations title defence in Rome today.

That may sound like a lot of responsibility to place on a 25-year-old’s shoulders heading into the campaign but the Munster scrum-half has crammed more than enough experience into his four and a half seasons as a senior professional to carry the burden of expectation as Ireland prepare to face Italy at Stadio Olimpico without a first-choice No.8 and fly-half and an inexperienced midfield pairing.

Coming to the Eternal City was always going to be tough with Sergio Parisse’s Azzurri side showing in November the signs of a return to the heights they reached in 2013, when they ran both France and an injury-hit and demoralised Ireland ragged on home soil.