Conor Murray hopes Johnny Sexton will have Six Nations role with Ireland

Johnny Sexton was part of Ireland's coaching in a consultancy role during the November internationals.

Mon, 20 Jan, 2025 - 17:04

PJ Browne

Conor Murray hopes that Johnny Sexton will be involved with the Ireland camp during the Six Nations, as he was for the November internationals. The former Ireland captain was part of Ireland's coaching team in a consultancy role.

"I don't miss him screaming at me!" Murray joked on the For the Love of the Game podcast when asked if he misses Sexton.

"I think I've won one argument against Johnny in the hundreds we've had on the pitch, literally one, and I had to be dead sure I was right.

"I always felt sorry for wingers because any time we got like a penalty, if you weren't flat ready for a cross kick he'd do the Johnny thing, slap his thighs - every time, every time. I've had a few earfuls but wingers just always got it.

"So that side of things, no, but he's something else. He's a great mate, he's a legend of rugby."

Murray said Sexton was "passing on knowledge" through the role he had in November.

"In November he got involved in a couple of training sessions and he still has that like, narkiness, like proper giving out to lads; it doesn't leave you, it just doesn't leave you. Lads were giving him a few shoulders and stuff so it was good to see."

The 35-year-old believes that there there is a burden on those aiming to succeed Sexton in the 10 jersey.

"For (Sam) Prendergast and (Jack) Crowley and (Ciarán) Frawley and whoever else gets a chance, there's always going to be the public being like, 'oh, Johnny would have done this, Johnny would have done that', which is a big pressure on the shoulders of those boys," said Murray.

"They're trying to be themselves and that's where Andy (Farrell) is so good as well and Simon (Easterby) will be too, hopefully, in terms of just letting the lads play their own game."

Murray added that rival for the Ireland nine jersey, Jamison Gibson-Park, is the best scrum-half in the world apart from Antoine Dupont.

"Jameson, he's a top class player," said Murray.

"I think he's in his prime and he's flying it. Maybe years ago, if I was younger, I'd find it hard to say, but you have to appreciate when someone's literally on top of their game.

"You know, if DuPont wasn't such a freak, Jamison would be right up there as one of the best around. He is, but he probably would be the best if your man didn't come from space."