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.
This story is from the July 04, 2021 edition of The Rugby Paper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the July 04, 2021 edition of The Rugby Paper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
England can find a little bit of cheer
SO HERE we are on the final day of England’s autumn international series with all of us hoping and expecting Steve Borthwick’s team to win today after three weeks of bitter disappointment.
Stop messing with Marcus - Campese
DAVID Campese believes England are going backwards under Steve Borthwick, who is ‘messing around’ with talisman Marcus Smith.
Being a Lion was the highlight of my career
I PLAYED 19 games and scored 219 points for the Lions, on the tours to South Africa in 1968 and New Zealand in 1971, but I never played in a Test and that was fair enough.
Cook's crew not fazed as they eye tilt at top half
THERE appear to be few signs of second season syndrome at Westcombe Park as captain Nick Cook reveals the group aren’t even contemplating the threat of relegation and are instead targeting a top-half finish.
Forwards pack a punch for the Reds
OLD Redcliffians produced a proud defensive effort to take a bonus-point win.
Tom 'Ailes' the achievements of inspirational skipper Riley
SEDGLEY Park No. 8 Tom Ailes says his team relish the competitive nature of National One and is confident the Tigers can rectify their rocky start to the season in weeks to come.
Strachan confident Ampthill will be firing again soon
FRASER Strachan is determined to put Ampthill’s leaky defensive showings behind them and gain some much needed confidence in the run up to Christmas.
It's a whole new ball game for Rigg
WILL Rigg’s ambition was to become a professional cricketer but it is the oval ball rather than The Oval that is his driver now.
Scarratt leads the way for Lightning
LOUGHBOROUGH won a wet and windy East Midlands Derby after having the bonus point in the bag by half-time.
Becconsall: We need to release pressure
WILL Becconsall says Exeter are not spooked by the threat of relegation as they look to turn around their Premiership campaign after starting with six straight defeats.
