Murray close to returning and is excited for Munster’s season

Conor Murray is close to a comeback from the troublesome neck injury that has kept him on the sideline so far this season.

The scrum half has missed all of Munster’s games in the Pro14 and Champions Cup and will also not return in time for Ireland’s four games in the Autumn Internationals. However, he is almost ready to make his comeback in a Munster jersey.

“I’m nearly back. I’m doing 90% of training with Munster for the last three weeks or so, doing modified contact on the sideline.

“The reason we kept it quiet at the start is because we didn’t know what it was. That was my whole thinking behind it, it wasn’t ever the whole data protection or me keeping it secret.

“It was, ‘Look, I don’t know what this is yet fully, I don’t know when I’m going to be back, so let’s just say I’m managing an injury.’

“From my side, I said it to Johann and I said it to Fiona down in Munster, ‘Let’s just keep it here and say I’m managing an injury until we find out how long it’s going to take.”

Murray is disappointed to be missing the Ireland games this Autumn but it gives Joe Schmidt a chance to give Kieran Marmion, John Cooney and Luke McGrath a chance to stake a claim with the World Cup less than a year away.

Despite the obvious frustration in missing the matches, Murray will be more than a keen observer to see how well the other scrum halves vying for the starting nine shirt with Ireland do.

“They’ve done really well, they’re really good players. Me, over the last few seasons, I’ve started quite a number of games and played a quite a few minutes for Ireland.

“Those lads have been flying it for their provinces. Lukey, Marms and Coons. They’re going really well. That’s going to be the tough part of this November, watching those guys play well.

“They’re good players. That’s the way it is. That’s tough, but that’s professional sport and that motivates me to get back and play well and put myself in a position to play well and be selected again.”

Murray has committed to Munster and Ireland by signing a new contract recently and has been joined by Keith Earls on that front, which is fantastic news for the province.

The Patrickswell man has had a birds-eye view of Munster this season and has been impressed with the way the team have been going in his absence, albeit with a couple of poor performances thrown in.

“This year, more than ever – and it might sound like I’ve said it before –  I’m really excited about Munster, really, really excited.

“Joey (Carbery) has settled in really well. Tadhg (Beirne) does too against Exeter. He’s been class, he’s been really, really impressive.

“Mike Haley, he’s bubbling. He’s turned in a few good performances. I’ve given Zeebs (Simon Zebo) plenty of stick that he’s better than him.

“I think the additions we’ve made and Johann (van Graan) having a good run at pre-season and implementing his game plan. He inherited half Rassie, half Jacques and then his own stuff. It was difficult for him.”

Conor Murray was speaking at the announcement of his teaming up with PINERGY for the 2018/19 season, as part of their #WeAre16 campaign.