{"id":293021,"date":"2023-09-18T21:34:09","date_gmt":"2023-09-18T21:34:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/?p=293021"},"modified":"2023-09-18T21:34:09","modified_gmt":"2023-09-18T21:34:09","slug":"conor-murray-ireland-squad-in-unbelievable-nick-ahead-of-south-africa-clash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/rugby-union\/conor-murray-ireland-squad-in-unbelievable-nick-ahead-of-south-africa-clash\/","title":{"rendered":"Conor Murray: Ireland squad in \u2018unbelievable nick\u2019 ahead of South Africa clash"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Scrum-half Conor Murray feels Ireland\u2019s squad are \u201cbuzzing\u201d and in \u201cunbelievable nick\u201d ahead of a pivotal Paris appointment with reigning world champions South Africa.<\/p>\n

Andy Farrell\u2019s men have underlined their status as Test rugby\u2019s top-ranked nation by beginning the World Cup with emphatic bonus-point successes over Romania and Tonga.<\/p>\n

But their credentials will be truly tested on Saturday evening when they face the formidable Springboks at Stade de France in Pool B\u2019s standout fixture.<\/p>\n

Ireland will assess hooker Dan Sheehan, back-rower Jack Conan (both foot) and prop Finlay Bealham (head injury assessment) before the visit to the French capital, with Murray excited for the step up in challenge.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe feel great,\u201d said the Munster player. \u201cGoing back to the pre-season we had, it was great. We feel fit. Most of the lads are in unbelievable nick.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe have a couple of lads with knocks to come back and, when we get them, we will be absolutely buzzing.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut we are buzzing already. The exciting thing is we want to see where we can take this team when the challenges get tougher and tougher.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are playing good rugby and have things to work on as usual. The big tests are to come but we feel good, we are ready to go.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to embrace it. It\u2019s going to be a massive challenge: world champions in a World Cup. It\u2019s something really exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Murray started against Tonga in Nantes after backing up Jamison Gibson-Park from the bench in the Bordeaux opener against Romania.<\/p>\n

The 34-year-old could this weekend come up against provincial team-mate Jean Kleyn, who represented Ireland at the 2019 World Cup before recently switching allegiance to his native country.<\/p>\n

Murray insists there are no hard feelings over that decision but will be looking to steer clear of his towering former Test colleague on the field.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe has been an unbelievable servant to Munster, so you\u2019d wish him all the best,\u201d he said of 30-year-old lock Kleyn.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlayers make decisions when they have opportunities and that\u2019s the way the world is now.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I\u2019m playing against him, I\u2019ll just try and avoid him. He is a physical man, he loves that kind of carry on and he is very, very good at it, so, I\u2019ll just try to avoid him and we\u2019ll have a chat after.\u201d<\/p>\n

Assistant coach Mike Catt says Ireland are fully aware of the threats posed by South Africa but concedes nullifying them is a different matter.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are playing a great brand of rugby at the moment, there is a real good mix of their physicality and their directness to their ability to move the ball,\u201d said the former England World Cup winner, who was born and raised in Port Elizabeth.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI think having Manie Libbok at 10, Damian Willemse at 15 and Willie Le Roux, they\u2019re definitely putting the ball through the hands more and causing problems, big problems, for a lot of teams.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re well aware of it, but still got to try and stop it.\u201d<\/p>\n

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