Peter O’Mahony: Up to us to protect classy Conor Murray

Peter O’Mahony believes Munster and Ireland scrum-half Conor Murray deserves better protection from his team-mates as opponents try to negate the impact of one of world rugby’s best number nines.

Such is his influence on his teams’ gameplans Murray, 27, has long been a target for opposition forwards but the Munster man was angered by the special attention he received from Glasgow’s back row Josh Strauss at Scotstoun on January 14 when he believed he could have been seriously injured after being tackled on his standing leg as he made box kicks.

Glasgow denied using such tactics and hit back at Murray for criticising them and with Scotland hosting an Ireland side sure to include their star scrum-half at Murrayfield on the opening weekend of the 2017 Six Nations in 11 days, all eyes will be on the Irish nine.