Duncan Casey: The benefits of kicking away possession

We’re all familiar with it. That collective groan that surrounds you at a stadium or pub when Conor Murray launches another box kick into the sky.

“What’s he doing?” is the usual reaction. Parents of scrumhalves in every Irish province must be blue in the face from trying to justify this kind of behaviour to friends and strangers alike.

Everyone understands the need to clear your lines. It’s not putting it off the pitch that bothers people. It’s understandable. The most important thing in rugby is possession.