Throughout a distinguished enjoying profession, former Eire, Munster and British and Irish Lions scrum-half Conor Murray performed alongside some legendary figures on the earth of rugby union.
In a special edition of the BBC’s Ireland Rugby Social podcast, Murray selects the very best XV from all of the gamers he lined up with throughout 15 years taking part within the sport on the highest stage.
The 36-year-old racked up 125 caps for Eire, made 207 appearances for Munster and performed eight Exams for the Lions throughout three excursions in 2013, 2017 and 2021.
In his personal place of scrum-half, Murray chosen former Wales quantity 9 Mike Phillips, one among three Welsh gamers in his XV.
Murray says he discovered a lot from watching Phillips, “taking in as a lot info as he might” as a part of the Lions squad in 2013.
A few Englishmen are additionally included within the choice, with the rest of the crew made up of his former Eire team-mates.
Murray explains on the podcast that he believes Sam Warburton is worthy of his place within the facet at open-side flanker due to each his performances and his management talents.
Warburton led the Lions to a collection victory over Australia in 2013 and a drawn collection with New Zealand 4 years later.
The Welsh ahead had pure leaders like Brian O’Driscoll and Paul O’Connell within the Lions ranks when he took up the reins for the 2013 tour at simply 24 years outdated.
“To be sincere, I might say it was exhausting for him [to win everyone over at first],” stated Murray.
“You had Paulie [O’Connell] and Drico [O’Driscoll] and gamers who had been on Lions excursions earlier than and folks naturally seemed as much as them. They did not need to earn individuals’s respect.
“They seemed as much as Sam too however he was a brand new younger captain, younger to be captain of a British and Irish Lions crew.”
