Conor Murray keeps focus solely on All Blacks

Warren Gatland and his Lions will be the furthest thing from Conor Murray’s mind when Ireland face the All Blacks in Chicago and Dublin this November.

Joe Schmidt’s side are the only one of the four ‘home’ unions who will face the world champions before Gatland’s tourists travel to New Zealand for the 2017 summer tour and the Kiwi has suggested it may count in the favour of prospective Irish candidates.

“They will be massive challenges,” said Murray of the games. “We had Irish camp a few weeks ago and we were already trying to plot our game plan. If you did well against them that would help your cause but that’s not on your mind when you’re playing the All Blacks with your country.