Calm Conor Murray still gets Brian O'Driscoll's backing

Andy Farrell can choose between Murray, a newly-Irish-qualified Leinster nine in Jamison Gibson-Park and Connacht’s Kieran Marmion

Brian O'Driscoll. Picture: INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Competition among Irish scrum-halves is mounting on a number of fronts for Conor Murray but Brian O’Driscoll believes the assurance the Munster number nine brings to his Ireland team-mates should see him remain Andy Farrell’s first-choice this autumn.

Farrell is today set to name his team to face Italy this Saturday as the 2020 Guinness Six Nations resumes after an eight-month hiatus with a round-four clash behind closed doors at the Aviva Stadium.