'I'll play anywhere', says Murphy

Geordan Murphy gets a rare start for Ireland when he faces Italy in Rome tomorrow but insists he does not care where he plays as he stakes his claim for a permanent place in the team.

Having come on as a substitute for injured wing Shane Horgan in last Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations opener against Scotland and stealing the show with a brilliant breakaway try to kill off the home side’s hopes, Murphy could start at either wing or in his preferred position of full-back if regular number 15 Girvan Dempsey fails to shake off a niggling groin strain.

Concern for team-mates aside, he doesn’t care one where he ends up as he explained: “I’m just delighted to be picked in the starting line-up.

“I really enjoyed my run on the wing last week and I’ve enjoyed playing full-back for Leicester so it doesn’t really make much of a difference at this level.

“The way the Irish are playing the game now I’m going to get as much ball on the wing as I am at full-back so I don’t really mind.

“Girvan’s picked to play at full-back and he wants to play and I support him completely. I’m there on the wing and fingers’ crossed he’ll be fit and can pull through.

“If he doesn’t we’ll just go with the contingency plan and John Kelly will step up and we’ll work with that combination. There’s no preference whatsoever.”

But full-back is where Murphy is happiest, for club and country.

He continued: “I’ve made no secret of the fact I enjoy playing at full-back a little bit more and thankfully this year Leicester have started to pay attention to me.

“I think they always knew but I played my first game back from injury there during the summer against an Italian side and played pretty well and got some good raps from the Leicester management.

“So they said to me ’maybe we’ll keep you there’ and I’ve played pretty much all season for Leicester at full-back. It’s been a case of keeping Tim Stimpson out and he’s been playing on the wing.”

Murphy’s Murrayfield try was his ninth in 12 internationals, a fantastic strike-rate which makes his non-appearances all the more mystifying.

He is, though, diplomatic, adding: “To be quite honest, there is a lot more to rugby than scoring tries.

“In fairness, all I can do to get myself picked is to try and play my best.

“Fortunately, I’ve played for Ireland 12 times, which is a great honour. Obviously I would like to play more but I don’t pick the team – the management do and it’s up to me to impress them.

“In saying that, obviously we’ve already got quality players in the side and, thankfully, it puts them in a tough position.

“That is the great luxury in Irish rugby at the minute.”