‘We’re a tightly-knit group at the moment and not much gets in or out’

Conor Murray believes it is easy to ignore all the positive noise swirling around a buoyant Ireland squad as they begin their bid to win a first Test in Australia since 1979.

The newly-crowned Six Nations champions and Grand Slam winners will go into the opening Test against the Wallabies at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday with a hard-earned reputation as a major force in world rugby and the favourites tag to beat the 2015 World Cup finalists in their own backyard over a three-Test series.

Four days out from the opening rubber, Murray feels Ireland will not be distracted by all the flattery coming their way and will stay focused on their bid to end the season on a high.