Murray Kinsella reports from Stadio Olimpico
PAUL O’CONNELL IS confident Jordi Murphy will prove in ideal replacement for Jamie Heaslip in Ireland’s number eight jersey against Italy tomorrow, while also underlining that Ireland cannot put too much pressure on the returning Sean O’Brien.
Murphy [left] will wear number eight for Ireland tomorrow. Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO
Murphy is set for his first start in the Six Nations in Heaslip’s absence, while Ian Keatley makes his debut in the competition at out-half with Johnny Sexton missing.
O’Connell believes both players will pass the test at Stadio Olimpico in what are sure to be intense circumstances.
“I suppose he’s a little bit similar to Jamie in many ways,” said O’Connell of Murphy after Ireland’s captain’s run in the Rome rain this afternoon. “He’s a very relaxed guy, obviously a very talented fella, very powerful.”
“He’s looking forward to the game at the weekend. One of the things with Joe [Schmidt] is that everyone knows their own role. They know that ‘if I know what I’m doing, we’ll be fine’, and that’s the mantra Jordi’s taking into the game.
However, O’Connell did admit that not having Heaslip on the pitch in Rome tomorrow is a blow, particularly in terms of experience and mental strength.
“Yeah, it is strange, you definitely lose a relaxed leadership around the place. He always has plenty to say and a good way of saying it,” said the Munster second row.
“And there’s no doubt he’d be a handy guy to have, especially with a few inexperienced guys in the team, but that’s part and parcel of it. You just have to get on with it.”
O’Connell is backing Keatley and Murphy to impress. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO
In terms of international inexperience, Keatley’s presence is an obvious talking point as he makes his tournament debut at the age of 27. He’s not a young player by any means, but this is perhaps the biggest game of his career so far.
Having played alongside Keatley for some time now at Munster, O’Connell is firm in stating that his teammate will deal with the occasion comfortably. While Keatley has only three Ireland caps, O’Connell feels the out-half’s Champions Cup and Pro12 history will have him in a good place for tomorrow.
“I think he can handle it very well, he’s very experienced,” said O’Connell. “He’s travelled a long road to get here, obviously having left Leinster, gone to Connacht, came from Connacht down to Munster, played under Ronan [O’Gara] and he’s been excellent for us.
“He plays a great leadership role for us at Munster, he’s played in all kinds of conditions, under a good few different coaches. So he’s a really, really experienced out-half despite the fact he doesn’t have that many caps.
“I know he’s really enjoyed working with Joe, he’s really looking forward to playing tomorrow and I’m sure he’ll do really well.”
While there may be some concern on the outside of Ireland’s camp about the more inexperienced international players in the side tomorrow, there is at widespread excitement about the return of Sean O’Brien.
O’Brien during Ireland’s captain’s run this afternoon. Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO
The 30-times capped back row adds a welcome edge of know-how at this level, even if he is coming back from a torrid 14 months of shoulder problems. O’Connell underlined that Ireland shouldn’t expect O’Brien to return immediately to his peak.
“It’s excellent to have him back, and I think it’s important that we don’t put too much pressure on him as a team. It’s important that we don’t put that pressure on him.
“I’m sure he’s going to be really enthusiastic to take on a big workload as he always is, he’s a fantastic ball-carrier, a fantastic tackler, very good on the ground as well.
“I think it’s important that we take that workload off him and let him find his way into the game as well.”
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