Conor Murray: Ireland ready to enter ‘cauldron’

New coach, new belief, two wins from two and their first game at ‘HQ’ to come.

Life under Eddie Jones seems to be suiting England. The World Cup implosion has been all but erased from the system. Defeat Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday and they would wash away the last stains from their losses at the iconic venue to Australia and Wales late last year.

It all leaves Joe Schmidt’s depleted side with a task of gargantuan proportions although there is the counter-argument that confident England sides have been nobbled by Ireland in the past, most notably in 2001 and again 10 years later when Grand Slams were whisked from their grasp.

“Outside the group people can talk about that,” said Murray. “We see them as a really strong outfit, a team that are playing really well. I don’t think they will be overconfident, especially with what has happened between us over the last two years. They have been tight Test matches. We know how good a team they are.

“Mentally for us, it is about preparing to go into a cauldron, a place where England are really, really hard to beat. Personally and collectively you have to ensure your game is as good as it can be in for the weekend.

“I don’t think, mentally, trying to take them down a notch or them being overconfident is in our mindset.”

The recent rivalry between the sides is fascinating.

Ireland have won six of the last 10 Six Nations meetings, but England have come out on top in three of the last four and Murray was keen to mention yesterday that he has yet to beat them in Twickenham.

The same can be said for many of this Ireland squad.

Still, those with a penchant for symmetry will be interested to learn that Ireland’s last win in southwest London was in 2010. England had won their opening two games while Ireland were looking to salve the wounds suffered in defeat away to France.

Sound familiar?

Not many of those players will be involved this time. Six at most. England will have even fewer from that day and Ireland will be attempting a repeat without a handful of men whose leadership qualities are every bit as crucial as their skillsets.

Sean O’Brien has been the latest lieutenant to be ruled out of this Six Nations, the hamstring he injured against the French two weekends ago leaving a gaping hole much greater than Ireland’s ability to generate go-forward ball.

“He’s a guy that would really drive our defence and line speed and other areas like that and now he’s gone obviously, unfortunately, with his injury,” said Murray yesterday. “That’s another challenge for other players.

“Maybe not in the same position, but for someone else to stand up and drive that line speed, that defensive focus. That’s naturally going to happen. I’m not going to tell you there’s someone like Seánie to come in, there isn’t.

“Seánie is a huge asset and really drove that area for us. But everyone knows what they’re supposed to do. Rory Best is doing a great job at driving home a few little concentration points throughout the week.”

It could get worse before it gets better. Ireland train at Carton House today and the hope is that Jared Payne’s dodgy hamstring will allow him to tog out. If it doesn’t, and he doesn’t, then that’s another team leader touch and go for Saturday.

Such has life been this last few weeks.

Murray doesn’t deny that it hasn’t been challenging, but Murray can’t bring himself to embrace pessimism when he looks around and sees people like Jonathan Sexton and Jamie Heaslip. He believes Ireland are close to really clicking, frustratingly so.

Managing that in the midst of a Six Nations isn’t easy. Time and again we have heard players and coaches preach the need for momentum in this tournament and Ireland simply don’t have it, even if Murray is adamant a change of fortunes is within their grasp.

“Looking at the Welsh game, and combining it with the disappointment of France, I think we are confident. I know we’re confident. We’re just a little bit annoyed that we didn’t perform against France and we want to do something about that this weekend.

“And, you know, England away is a huge challenge and a great place to do that, to right those wrongs.”