Ireland head coach Andy Farrell believes being named British and Irish Lions captain is the perfect riposte to the cynics who circled Conor Murray’s career in recent months.
The Munster scrum-half, currently on his third tour in South Africa, was handed the ‘armband’ after Wales lock Alun Wyn Jones suffered a shoulder injury against Japan last week.
The 32-year-old is set to become the 12th Irishman to skipper the Lions, following in the footsteps of legendary names like Willie John McBride and Paul O’Connell.
And Farrell is confident Murray will relish being the “main man” for Warren Gatland as the tourists prepare to face the Springboks in three tests later this month and early-August.
“I’m delighted for him,” said Farrell. “He’s been questioned quite a bit over the last couple of years regarding form etcetera, but he is class and he always rises to the top.
“He has always come through the ups and downs and that’s what happens in an illustrious career. That’s why top players are always coming up trumps in the end.
“Everyone was talking about whether he’d get selected for Ireland and Craig Casey was pushing him at Munster. The pressure, Conor just absorbs it.
“It brings the best out of him and all of a sudden now he’s the main man for the Lions and that just shows the calibre of the guy.”
Farrell believes Murray’s personality and leadership skills will be a major plus for the Lions who kick off their tour against the Emirates Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday.
“You can see within the dynamics of the Jersey (training) camp how Conor would be at the forefront just because of his personality,” he said.
“He attracts people around him, not because he’s loud and boisterous, just because he’s a good bloke and the experience that he’s got from the last few tours.
“The experience of the ups and downs that he’s had throughout his career will stand him in great stead. I’m sure he’ll do a fine job and we’re all delighted for him here.”
Meanwhile, Farrell has revealed James Ryan wasn’t close to joining up with the British and Irish Lions due to a niggly muscle injury.
Ryan, who will captain the national side against Japan on Saturday, had been tipped to replace injured Wales lock Alun Wyn Jones in Warren Gatland’s squad.
But an abductor issue, which has healed in time for this weekend’s test against the Brave Blossoms, put paid to any hopes of the Leinster forward joining up with the tourists.
“Myself and Warren (Gatland) have communicated quite a lot and I know that Warren really rates James,” said Farrell.
“But the injury was a little bit of a setback towards the end of last week and we didn’t quite know where he was with that and then the medics took over.
“I informed him (Gatland) that there was something going on and the medics took over from there. I think James in the last day or so has surprised everyone with the speed of his recovery.”
On Ryan being passed fit to lead Ireland out against Japan in Dublin, he added: “I’m delighted he is able to captain the side and it’s something he’s unbelievably passionate about.
“He has had two goes at it and he has learned from those experiences. We have seen him lead the side very well over the last 10 days and we’re delighted he is able to join us.”
While Japan, who lost 28-10 to the Lions in Edinburgh last weekend, are outsiders at The Aviva, Farrell won’t need any reminding of the outcome the last time the two nations met in 2019.
Ireland, ranked second in the world at the time, suffered a 19-12 defeat in Shizuoka as the Brave Blossoms recorded one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history.
“This is a proper test match and we’re playing against a top class side,” he warned.
“We all know the last time we played them and they are a formidable side that’s very experienced and we obviously need to respect them but also ourselves first and foremost.”
