Mike Catt: Conor Murray used lockdown to get back to his best

Ireland attack coach Catt believes Murray made the most he possibly could have out of the enforced downtime - and that will be to Ireland’s benefit

Conor Murray has “re-found” his mojo, according to Mike Catt

Mike Catt is convinced Conor Murray has “re-found” his mojo during lockdown and the scrum-half’s record half-back partnership with Johnny Sexton can provide Ireland with the experience and composure to secure victory over Italy in Dublin today.

Having equalled the 55-Test Ireland record set by Peter Stringer and Ronan O’Gara when they played together against Samoa at the World Cup last October, Murray and Sexton will start their 60th Test together when Ireland’s 2020 Guinness Six Nations campaign resumes after an eight-month hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.