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Is Conor Murray currently Ireland's best player?

  • 09-11-2017 10:39pm
    #1
    snowflaker
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,922 ✭✭✭


    He's nailed on for province and country and a Lions starter.

    I cant think of a team he wouldn't pick up the 9 shirt at.

    They are the reasons I believe, he's Ireland's current best player. Agree?


«1

Comments

  • #2
    Burkie1203
    Registered Users Posts: 11,118 ✭✭✭✭Burkie1203


    snowflaker wrote: »
    He's nailed on for province and country and a Lions starter.

    I cant think of a team he wouldn't pick up the 9 shirt at.

    They are the reasons I believe, he's Ireland's current best player. Agree?

    Sexton is. The drop off at 10 is bigger then the drop off at 9 without Jackson.


  • #3
    snowflaker
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,922 ✭✭✭snowflaker


    Burkie1203 wrote: »
    Sexton is. The drop off at 10 is bigger then the drop off at 9 without Jackson.

    Would that not be most important? I mean best, rugby wise.


  • #4
    sullivlo
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 9,994 Mod ✭✭✭✭sullivlo


    Furlong?


  • #5
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    snowflaker wrote: »
    Would that not be most important? I mean best, rugby wise.

    He's not as good a tight head as Furlong imo.


  • #6
    Burkie1203
    Registered Users Posts: 11,118 ✭✭✭✭Burkie1203


    snowflaker wrote: »
    Would that not be most important? I mean best, rugby wise.

    Sexton is our best and most important player right now.


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  • #7
    beertons
    Hosted Moderators Posts: 23,055 ✭✭✭✭beertons


    Yes, he is.


  • #8
    snowflaker
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,922 ✭✭✭snowflaker


    Burkie1203 wrote: »
    Sexton is our best and most important player right now.

    Do you wear Johnny Sexton PJ's too?


  • #9
    sydthebeat
    Subscribers Posts: 40,967 ✭✭✭✭sydthebeat


    Hes Irelands best 9 that's for sure.


  • #10
    Burkie1203
    Registered Users Posts: 11,118 ✭✭✭✭Burkie1203


    snowflaker wrote: »
    Do you were Johnny Sexton PJ's too?

    Sexton wears Burkie1203 PJs ;)


  • #11
    snowflaker
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,922 ✭✭✭snowflaker


    sydthebeat wrote: »
    Hes Irelands best 9 that's for sure.

    Talk about going out on a limb! :pac:


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  • #12
    snowflaker
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,922 ✭✭✭snowflaker


    Burkie1203 wrote: »
    Sexton wears Burkie1203 PJs ;)

    I hope you washed them first.


  • #13
    amcalester
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,121 ✭✭✭amcalester


    Very difficult to say pick a best player on a rugby team, the positions don’t really compare.

    Is he Ireland’s best number 9? Yes.

    Is he Ireland’s best hooker? No.

    Importance to the team is a better measure and I think Sexton wins out here.


  • #14
    thomond2006
    Registered Users Posts: 45,433 ✭✭✭✭thomond2006


    John Hayes.

    /close thread


  • #15
    snowflaker
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,922 ✭✭✭snowflaker


    thomond2006 wrote: »
    John Hayes.

    /close thread

    Are you Joe Schmidt? He's not v current.


  • #16
    errlloyd
    Registered Users Posts: 12,599 ✭✭✭✭errlloyd


    If you took a straw poll of other coaches and asked which Irish player they wished they could steal I think it'd be between Murray and Furlong. They're very good players in very tricky positions.

    However our best player is Sexton. He gives me more confidence than any other. When Sexton is there we are gonna be alright.


  • #17
    thomond2006
    Registered Users Posts: 45,433 ✭✭✭✭thomond2006


    snowflaker wrote: »
    Are you Joe Schmidt? He's not v current.

    ernie.gif


  • #18
    arsebiscuits1
    Registered Users Posts: 3,515 ✭✭✭arsebiscuits1


    From a peer status of position, yes I would argue he is Irelands best player.

    Of all of the players in Ireland who can be considered "World Class" Murray stands above his peers better than Sexton or Furlong or SOB I think.

    But Sexton is still a mighty fine player


  • #19
    Interested Observer
    Registered Users Posts: 12,999 ✭✭✭✭Interested Observer


    It's too hard to measure over positions. How do you define 'best'?

    It doesn't really matter anyway. He's an outstanding 9 but we beat England last year without him, which is a very positive indication that the sky doesn't in fact fall in without him.


  • #20
    eezipc
    Closed Accounts Posts: 534 ✭✭✭eezipc


    Slot of opinions may change tomorrow when Bundee gets a run.


  • #21
    Sephiral
    Registered Users Posts: 392 ✭✭Sephiral


    Our world class players are Furlong, SOB, Murray and Sexton. Definition of World Class is that they would come into a discussion about who the best in their position globally is.

    With that in mind, Sexton is both our best player and our most irreplacable player. He is the best fly half in the world for me, though B. Barrett is probably a better rugby player, if I'm allowed that distinction.


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  • #22
    prawnsambo
    Registered Users Posts: 12,995 ✭✭✭✭prawnsambo


    Sephiral wrote: »
    Our world class players are Furlong, SOB, Murray and Sexton. Definition of World Class is that they would come into a discussion about who the best in their position globally is.

    With that in mind, Sexton is both our best player and our most irreplacable player. He is the best fly half in the world for me, though B. Barrett is probably a better rugby player, if I'm allowed that distinction.
    The great advantage of having these players is how they can set the standard for the younger guys and help them get there.


  • #23
    aloooof
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 10,208 Mod ✭✭✭✭aloooof


    Sephiral wrote: »
    Our world class players are Furlong, SOB, Murray and Sexton. Definition of World Class is that they would come into a discussion about who the best in their position globally is.

    With that in mind, Sexton is both our best player and our most irreplacable player. He is the best fly half in the world for me, though B. Barrett is probably a better rugby player, if I'm allowed that distinction.

    There's definitely an argument that we have the best half-back pairing in world rugby. I wouldn't swap them for anyone, but then I don't see as much of Aaron Smith and Beauden Barrett.


  • #24
    kenmc
    Registered Users Posts: 7,276 ✭✭✭kenmc


    He barely registered in the recent Leinster match in lansdowne road. Was well into the match before I noticed him do anything, and if I remember correctly that was something negative rather than positive. And all that said, I genuinely like him, think he's a great player, but wouldn't say he's the best. Johnny maybe, furlong maybe, omahoney maybe, seanie coming back to great form too


  • #25
    Larbre34
    Registered Users Posts: 23,794 ✭✭✭✭Larbre34


    Not an easy debate to have in rugby, position v position, seen v unseen influence, injury profile v run of form etc.

    Murray is joint best 9 in the world I think and Sexton would be high in the mix for best 10, but in the same way O'Driscoll was so special for being the talent of a generation in his position, I think Ireland's best player is Sean O'Brien.


  • #26
    Jump_In_Jack
    Registered Users Posts: 3,606 ✭✭✭Jump_In_Jack


    Furlong for me.
    Never had a player like him, always impresses.
    Special.
    The others are world class, but Furlong is a world best.


  • #27
    Don Kiddick
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,080 ✭✭✭Don Kiddick


    Jump_In_Jack wrote: »
    Furlong for me.
    Never had a player like him, always impresses.
    Special.
    The others are world class, but Furlong is a world best.

    World's best? No


  • #28
    Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
    Registered Users Posts: 3,236 ✭✭✭Dr. Kenneth Noisewater


    IF we have a world's best in any position, it's Conor Murray IMO.


  • #29
    Bridge93
    Registered Users Posts: 7,018 ✭✭✭Bridge93


    Smith/Genia/Murray the top 3 scrum halves at the minute. Genia in great form but doesn't have the consistency of the other two. Murray a different sort of player to the others. Scrum half is a far more subjective area due to freedom of style than say tight head. I can't see any tight head in the world better than Furlong currently


  • #30
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Murray to me is world no.1. He has more variety to his game than the others and critically he executes his strengths to a very high level almost every time he plays.

    Furlong to me is similarly unassailable as no.1 in his position. He has a high work rate, strong carrying, powerful scrumming and he is exceptional in defence and often has a top tackle count with the back rows. No one else does as much to a high standard.

    I personally think that Sexton is also best in position. I only rate Barrett and Farrell alongside him and Barrett's inconsistency at the tee rules him out for me. I think Sexton is the better 10 than Farrell though Farrell may be the better overall player.

    Sean O'Brien is the only other player in the conversation currently from Ireland. I personally think a fully fit Heaslip has an argument but O'Brien at his best is as good or better than any other back rows. That said I'd mark Seanie down for the same reason I would have historically marked Heaslip up - availability.


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  • #31
    Yeah_Right
    Registered Users Posts: 5,960 ✭✭✭Yeah_Right


    Murray suits Ireland's tactics and style. I have my doubts whether he would make the ABs squad as they want something different from their scrum half. I certainly believe Murray could adapt to that style but it would take some time. He is world class and one of the best around.

    I can't think of any THs around that are better than Furlong. I think he is clearly the world's best. McGrath and Healy at their peak are in the conversation for best LH and SOB in form is one of the best 7s around.

    Sexton, Barrett or Farrell. All three a world class. As a kiwi, I go with Barrett.


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