Conor Murray: Lions squad firmly behind South Africa tour

After what he admits has been a few "crazy days", Conor Murray has been able to process his appointment as Lions captain and, having done so, is clearly at ease and excited by his new role, and also determined to be himself.

Facing the media for the first time since replacing the injured Alun Wyn Jones, Murray held court for almost half an hour in his own inimitably easy going, assured and articulate way, and maintained that not for a moment did he contemplate not accepting Warren Gatland’s offer or question it for a second since.

“No, no. The way the squad is set up, the way that players are so comfortable around each other and we’ve a great coaching staff which is sorted. But I think the players are driving this so well.”

Critical to Murray being a success in his captaincy of a 38-man squad is to use the many leaders around him, to share the load rather than try to assume too much responsibility. And he’s grasped this immediately.

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“There are so many guys with such experience as captains and leaders, whether it be leading by words or actions. They are littered across the squad.

“So in terms of extra pressure, I really don’t see it as that at the moment. There might be a few extra commitments here or there. You might have to think about things a little more and be across everything, as you would be anyway.

“I’ve been talking to a few people I’d quite respect at home and abroad. The reasons Warren chose me are for what he has seen. So it’s very important I remain myself and continue to do what I have done. We’ll work really well as a leadership group.”

“It’s definitely taken a few days to process and now that it’s sunk in I’m really excited by it because you’ve been around the lads now for over two weeks and there’s a really good vibe in camp.

“If it was a quiet group you’d feel a bit more pressure but I really don’t. It’s a massive honour to be able to do this and you want to make the most of it. You have to be excited by these things and I am.”

He’s played and served under some good captains, and they are all just a phone call away.

“Straight off the top of my head, Rory Best and Paul O’Connell would be two of the biggest captains I played under, and a good friend of mine in my club, Peter O’Mahony, who has experience in this area too.

“When things crop up, when you’re thinking of what to say or what not to say, it’s guys like that who thankfully you can pick up the phone to and run things past them.”

Not that he will try to copy them or try to be someone he isn’t.

“Yeah, I’ve thought about that and it really is. The boys are there and have their style. I have the utmost respect for all of them but it goes back to not changing what you do or who you are. It’s really important you remain true to yourself. I sound like a broken record but Warren chose me because of what he’s seen out of me on the last two tours and obviously how I play the game.

“That’s got to be top of my list, that I don’t try to change. That’s where it gets dangerous and you probably start to get a little bit distracted if you do try to change. It’s a clean sheet and it’s the way I do it now. Those lads are there on the end of the phone if anything crops up and I’m thinking about something. It’s a clean sheet for me.”

Leading by example is perhaps more obvious for Best, O’Connell, O’Mahony and O’Mahony, who are all forwards and can hit rucks, although Murray countered light-heartedly: “I hit the odd ruck!”

“Being a scrumhalf, having been around forwards in their unit sessions, you spend a lot of time with them, an even amount of time with backs and forwards. Nothing changes for me, it’s just trying to remain the same, lead by example with what you do on the pitch and you pick and choose your times to speak and when you speak you make sure you’ve thought about it and the message is really clear. I think if you over-think it, it’ll start to bother you a lot.

“I like to think I lead by example first and foremost and that can’t change. If anything that puts a bit more pressure on to play well and be across your detail. If people are coming to you about the gameplan or whatever, you have to be really, really sharp on those things. You would be anyway, but you have to make doubly sure now.”

The only downside is, he says ruefully, that “unfortunately” he is being treated a little differently now.

“They don’t call me by name anymore, it’s ‘Skips’ now so I’m trying to get rid of that one. They’ve been brilliant, that’s another thing that has put me at ease. Obviously on Saturday with Al and Tips (Justin Tipuric) losing out through injury, once Warren said I was to be taking over everyone came over and said congrats and you could feel that they meant it.

“It’s great to have that support from your fellow players and that’s the most important thing. Everyone is digging in, it’s getting serious so everyone is working really hard now and, as I say, there’s a really good vibe in camp.”

The optics of this tour proceeding are likely to generate more debate as the weeks go by and the pandemic in South Africa takes a tragic toll.

“Obviously we’re very aware of what’s going on outside with the lockdown,” said Murray. “The protocols and things are in place and we’re here to hopefully put a smile on people’s faces, here and even back home.

“Since we’ve been here when the bus is stopping in traffic lights, we’ve had people beeping, waving and smiling at us. So there’s a good buzz around us being here. We’re obviously very aware of the situation outside the hotel. We literally go from the hotel to the training ground so we’re very much restricted in our movements as well.

“Things can change quickly. We’re here and very lucky to be able to do what we’re doing and very focused on putting on a show for people to get behind and support us.”