Conor Murray book reveals training ground clash with O’Connell and Sexton friendship

From clashes with Paul O’Connell to a lifelong bond with Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray reflects on rugby, Munster and retirement

LEARNING FROM THE BEST: Munster’s Conor Murray, right, consults Paul O’Connell during a PRO12 game in 2011, alongside Ronan O’Gara and James Coughlan. Picture: Billy Stickland/Inpho

“Yeah, but it was a pass a world-class [player] should still have caught, right?” When certain Ireland and Leinster players reflect on how Joe Schmidt transformed the fortunes of both set-ups, they recall a moment only weeks into his tenure with Leinster when he brought Brian O’Driscoll down a peg or two.

They were in the video room dissecting a passage of play in which a sloppy pass had been hurled towards O’Driscoll who had duly fumbled it. Schmidt pulled up the player who’d thrown the pass but before he moved on to the next clip, he almost casually but pointedly threw that question and quip towards O’Driscoll. The whole room gasped – and inwardly smiled. No one was sacred now. Not even the team’s – country’s, sport’s – best player.