Lions tours, was handed the reins following the shoulder injury to Alun Wyn Jones. Naturally, given the circumstances, Murray was still coming to grips with this great honour. He was not alone.
Across braais, bar stools and bowls of biltong, South African rugby pundits and punters were in a similar state of surprise. It’s not that the 32year-old scrum-half is disrespected in the Republic. On the contrary, Mark Keohane, a divisive yet respected voice selected Murray as the best non-South African No.9 to have played the game since 1992. Were it not for a certain Fourie de Preez, the journalist would have selected Murray as the best scrum-half of the professional era.
The source of the collective shock was due to the by-passing of England’s captain and lynchpin Owen Farrell. As Keohane later tweeted, “(Warren) Gatland clearly doesn’t want an English captain.”
This says more about South Africans than it does about either Murray or Farrell. The All Blacks will forever be the Boks great nemesis and benchmark, but England and their players and fans just have a way of getting under the skin. Much of this has to do with the two nation’s colonial relationship as well as a perceived arrogance emanating from the land that birthed this game.
Bu hikaye The Rugby Paper dergisinin July 04, 2021 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Rugby Paper dergisinin July 04, 2021 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
England show who's No.1
ENGLAND women’s head coach John Mitchell says his side will take valuable lessons from the 24-12 win over world champions New Zealand as they build towards their WXV1 title defence.
Skivington: We're going to roll dice and go for it
THE Cherry and Whites are the enigmas of the Premiership.
Looking to go one step beyond this time around
NE small step is what it will take for Bath to go one better than last season and secure the Premiership for the first time, but it would be one of the biggest taken by the club in the professional era.
Four-try England make it 17 wins on the spin
ENGLAND women opened the Allianz Stadium era at HQ with a victory over New Zealand to make it 17 wins on the bounce before their WXV title defence.
Time for Borthwick to prove his worth
HONEYMOON periods are not set in stone and in my estimation Steve Borthwick’s ends this summer. Don’t get me wrong, he’s still in good shape.
Barrington ready to power up the Mob
RICHARD Barrington has signed up to the Ampthill “Mob” reassured that he’ll still have a target on his back most weeks.
Skivington keen to build identity
GLOUCESTER won their first trophy for nine years last season and reached the Challenge Cup final, but when George Skivington went on holiday the day after the campaign ended the words in his head were never again.
Roebuck targets England success
WINNING a maiden England Test cap to top the best season of his career will not be enough for Sale winger Tom Roebuck.
Booth: Tough telling players I was leaving
TOBY Booth admits telling his Ospreys players that he would be leaving at the end of the season was one of the hardest things he has had to do in his career.
Stephens' debut try sees off old rivals
DORKING had to dig deep in another tight game between two old rivals, with the lead changing hands twice and result in doubt right up to the final whistle.
