‘Conor’s unbelievably determined to kick his career on’

Andy Farrell is convinced there is plenty of road left for Conor Murray to travel in his Test rugby career after backing his under-fire scrum-half to steer Ireland in their Six Nations opener against Scotland in Dublin this Saturday.

Murray, 30, was widely believed to have been under severe pressure to hand over the Ireland number nine jersey he has occupied for the best part of a decade to in-form Ulster half-back John Cooney for the opening round of the championship.