From Queenstown in 2011, where he went from unlikely choice to starter in just over a month, Conor Murray has arrived in Nantes.
An early autumn heatwave has followed Ireland north of Bordeaux, but rain that has been hammered into submission over the past 24 hours is expected to crash over this Atlantic city today.
It will not deter Irish supporters, including members of Murray’s family, including his father Gerry.
Gerry Murray was involved in a serious accident while cycling near his home last February. He collided with a truck and suffered serious head injuries.
Conor was in the Irish camp preparing for the second round of the Six Nations after starting the opening win in Wales. He briefly left the Irish base to be with his father and family, but when Gerry Murray’s condition stabilized he returned and started in the win against France at the Aviva Stadium.
Despite personal and team challenges, Conor Murray will earn his 109th cap against Tonga
After making his debut under Declan Kidney, and in an era still dominated by the Big Os – Brian O’Driscoll, Paul O’Connell and Ronan O’Gara – Murray flourished under Joe Schmidt
Having followed his son’s stellar career around the world, he is part of the Murray contingent who will be at the city’s Stade de la Beaujoire tonight.
‘Yes, it’s great. He is in good health, is back playing golf and doing everything he loves,” said the veteran scrum half.
“It’s great that he can do it.” Murray’s father arrived by ferry earlier this week but more exotic trips were required to track his son’s progress from Munster prospect to Test centurion and Lion kingpin.
When he spoke to a group of us at Ireland’s pre-tournament base on New Zealand’s South Island 12 years ago, Murray was largely unknown outside the province.
He wins his 109th cap against Tonga tonight. “The journey, I’ve talked about it before, about getting through and getting in for 2011,” he says.
‘Where I am now it’s my fourth World Cup, people have said that and I’m aware of it, but I just appreciate where I am and I’m very grateful for the opportunities.
‘I’m lucky to have made four. I have seen in every cycle that people drop out due to injury, favor or form.’
After making his debut under Declan Kidney, and in an era still dominated by the Big Os – Brian O’Driscoll, Paul O’Connell and Ronan O’Gara – Murray flourished under Joe Schmidt.
Murray’s father, Gerry, survived a serious accident when he crashed into a truck while cycling
Ireland entered the Rugby World Cup as one of the favorites behind hosts France
Andy Farrell’s desire to play a game with a faster pace and less rigid structure led him to Jamison Gibson-Park, but Murray has not dropped from the chase.
He has also had challenges at Munster, including not making the squad for a European match last season. But maintaining standards and simply hanging in there should not be underestimated.
“I’m really lucky to be part of a team, especially this one,” he says. “They were all crazy crazy and they were all talented teams, but this one ticks a lot of those boxes, the camaraderie that we have.
‘I hope that will become visible from within. We don’t have to talk about that, we are a very close group.’ In 2011 he found himself increasingly central to a campaign whose group stages could not have gone better, stunning Australia and expertly handling Italy’s potentially dangerous challenge.
A first semi-final seemed, if not rock solid, then at least closer than ever before. Then Wales canceled out Ireland’s attacking threat by beating Stephen Ferris and Sean O’Brien on a night of dismal familiarity in Wellington.
This time, just like last time, and all previous times, the ambition to do better is palpable.
“Pre-season is a tough preparation, with the games starting quite quickly and you’re dealing with new combinations,” he says of Ireland’s sometimes choppy form in recent weeks, “compared to where we left off in the Six Nations and a A big series of shapes over eight weeks, but we’d like to think we’re definitely getting there.
‘There were huge positives from the game against Romania in terms of our form and the way we went about business there.
Andy Farrell’s team are hoping to reach the semi-finals of the tournament for the first time
‘Defensively I’m sure we’ll be tested a bit more as the weeks go by, so that’s an area we’re really aware of in training.
“I think we’re in a good place there but the bottom line is when you come up against these teams and the tests you face, it gets harder every week but I think after the game against Samoa said, we feel like we’re in a really good place.
“Now it’s just about showing it on Saturday.” And this is the first of a trio that will determine the fate of Ireland. The stakes keep getting higher. Murray knows these circumstances.
He has negotiated it before – and many more time-tested ones.