Conor Murray talks up the positives of testing year

Chris Farrell, Conor Murray and Ben Healy at Munster training this week. Picture: INPHO/Tommy Dickson

The competition for his number nine jerseys in both red and green is as intense as it has been but after a year in which his form has never been under so much scrutiny, Conor Murray is not only back in form and seeing off all-comers but loving the challenge for his place.

The arrival of Covid-19 midway through the Six Nations campaign and the subsequent lockdown proved to be as timely for Murray as it was unfortunate for his Ireland rival John Cooney.