Rory Best says Ireland's pack will protect Conor Murray against Scotland
Friday 3 February 2017 18:08, UK
Rory Best says Ireland’s pack are determined to provide Conor Murray with the platform he needs to impact the game against Scotland on Saturday.
Murray has been in the headlines in the build-up to the game after accusing the Glasgow contingent of Vern Cotter's squad of deliberately targeting his standing leg on box-kicks during Munster's Champions Cup clash at Scotstoun on January 14.
Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt said Murray could easily have blown his knee but Scotland captain Greig Laidlaw fired back by warning his opposite number not to expect "an armchair ride" at Murrayfield.
Limiting Murray, arguably the world's form No 9, will be a key component of Scotland's game plan but Ireland captain Best is confident the Munster talisman will cope with the pressure.
"Just like every other player pulling on an Ireland jersey tomorrow, Conor will want to play to the best of his ability," said Best.
"Conor wants to make sure that the pressure that will be on tomorrow, that he rises to it, and that it spurs him on.
"What Scotland will or won't do, that's what they've been discussing in their team hotel for the last two weeks. All we can do is make sure that as a pack of forwards we create a platform for him.
"The pressure on the nine, the pressure on the box-kick, it's something that a quality player like Conor expects. He expects them to pressure him around that area.
"For us it's about making sure that we cope with that pressure and we perform, and for him in particular that he's able to perform his role and we make sure that we get a good enough platform for him to get his box-kick or his pass off well.
"He's a quality nine, he's a quality player, he's shown that and backed it up time and time again this season, and what we're asking from him is another one of those performances that he's delivered regularly this season."
Ireland will be without first-choice fly-half Johnny Sexton - he misses out with a calf injury - against Scotland, meaning Ulster's Paddy Jackson will start with Ian Keatley of Munster on the bench.
However, Best is confident his 25-year-old Ulster team-mate Jackson - who will win his 20th Ireland cap against the Scots - has gained the experience he needs to excel in Sexton's absence.
"I think we need both our half-backs to dominate," Best said of Jackson and Murray. "There's no doubt that the half-backs move you around and put you in position to win matches.
"With Paddy and Johnny (Sexton) we have two really, really good out-halves.
"It's Jacko's chance now to have a go at it. He's played the majority of the Tests in the last 12 months. So he's ready to perform."
