Conor Murray forewarned by memory of New Zealand’s 2008 visit to Thomond Park

Conor Murray knows exactly what will be revving up the Crusaders players he will face tomorrow. He has been in the Munster set-up long enough to remember the All Blacks visiting Thomond Park when he was an academy hopeful and the desire among his seniors to put in a massive performance against an international touring team.

Now 27, the Lions scrum-half will experience those feelings from the other side of the equation when he runs out at the AMI Stadium in Christchurch to face the Super Rugby kingpins in their own backyard.

“I was in the Munster Academy, training with the seniors so I was there for that week (of the 2008 All Blacks game), the build-up and the hype and all the excitement around it,” Murray recalled yesterday.