Murray Kinsella reports from St. George’s Park
JORDI MURPHY CUT a seriously dejected figure in the Aviva Stadium after Ireland’s defeat to Wales three weekends ago.
You’d expect nothing other than disappointment from a professional athlete after losing, but the 24-year-old looked to have accepted the weight of the poor result entirely on himself.
Indeed, the back row, who played openside that day, essentially blamed himself for Ireland’s tough day at the breakdown, feeling that he had allowed Wales and Justin Tipuric too much of a stranglehold in that department.
Murphy has moved on from that feeling, naturally enough, but as he gets ready for his first World Cup appearance against Romania this weekend in Wembley, the sense may be welcomed back into his mind.
“I wasn’t happy on the day, I thought I was kinda beaten one-on-one by my opposite number and it’s one of those things,” said Murphy this afternoon in Ireland’s team hotel near Burton-on-Trent.
“Next time I get a chance to play, I want to rectify that and move on. Obviously you don’t want a repeat of those kind of results or those days out, so I suppose you might want them in the back of your mind a little bit so you have a picture of where you don’t want to be in the future.”
Tipuric is the man Murphy refers to above, the Wales openside having had a wonderful day in Dublin during the win for Warren Gatland’s men.
I just wasn’t really on my game on the day I suppose,” said Murphy. ”I didn’t play smart enough, like I know I can, and I suppose he got up a head of steam and kept going and rolling on from there.
“I’ve got to start the game from minute one, I can’t just try and play my way into it. It’s one of those things where it’s got to happen from the off.”
Murphy was “a bit worried” after his display, given that Joe Schmidt had to finalise his 31-man World Cup squad just two days later, but the Kiwi head coach doesn’t make up his mind based on one performance.
Murphy has huge credit in the bank thanks to his superb displays during the last two seasons, while his ability to play at openside and number eight is a major advantage to the squad.
The Leinster man will get his World Cup chance this weekend against Romania, most likely in the starting XV.
“I’m obviously raring to go,” said Murphy. “It’s kind of tough watching the lads play and obviously it was a great result (against Canada) and they played very well.
“It’s one of those things, only 23 can play on the day and it’s a 31-man squad. Hopefully if I get a run this weekend or sometime soon, I’ll take it with both hands.”
Murphy points to forwards like Paulica Ion, Mihaita Lazar and captain Mihai Macovei as men who have stood out in Ireland’s analysis of Romania, a team who are “certainly not to be underestimated.”
There is hope from the men set to come into Schmidt’s XV that Wembley on Sunday will have a similar Irish presence and atmosphere to the “absolutely incredible” scenes in Cardiff last weekend.
Murphy has settled in well amidst the “pretty outstanding” facilities at Ireland’s new training base of St. George’s Park, although an image of David Beckham in the room he is sharing with Sean Cronin has been a point of argument.
It’s over Nugget’s bed so I think he’s sleeping well!” said Murphy with a laugh.
There have been thoughts of taking the photograph of Beckham down, but then the former England star had a few good days out at Wembley. Murphy and Cronin will hope the London venue is a happy hunting ground for them against the Romanians.
“A few lads played very well against Canada and as a collective I thought we played very well,” said Murphy.
“It’s one of those things that if or when I get a chance, I’m just going to try go out there and put my hand up as well, and give Joe and the coaches a bit of a headache.”
