Murray Kinsella reports from Dunedin

EX-ALL BLACKS and Lions coach Graham Henry has lauded Conor Murray as the best scrum-half in the world after the Irishman’s excellent performance during the Lions’ victory over the Crusaders on Saturday.

Murray was hugely impressive in the Lions’ nine shirt, controlling the game with his sublime kicking and making his impact felt defensively too.

Murray was superb against the Crusaders. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO

He is the firm favourite to start at scrum-half for the Lions in the three-Test series against the All Blacks, when he will face one or both of the excellent Aaron Smith and TJ Perenara.

Speaking to RadioLIVE in New Zealand, Henry praised the Lions’ performance against the Crusaders and picked out Murray as one of the standout players.

“Conor Murray was outstanding,” said Henry. “He’s a very composed player, he knows the game and he never gets rattled. He’s probably the best number nine in the world.

“Owen Farrell and Johnny Sexton, who came on, they ran the game well. Alun Wyn Jones had a big game as captain, he led by example, led well.”

While the Lions took major criticism in New Zealand for their performances in the opening two games of the tour against the Provincial Barbarians and the Blues, Henry believes such negative judgements were hasty.

The former All Blacks boss sees reasons for the Lions to be optimistic, although he did pick out the attack and, a little more surprisingly, the scrum as two areas of concern for Warren Gatland.

“These guys have never played together before,” said Henry. “You can imagine picking an All Blacks team from around the world who haven’t seen each other and they always start a bit shakily, they always show a bit of rust… that’s why they’re playing Samoa.

“These guys have never played together, you’ve got to give them a chance. They’ve got another two, three games before the Tests and hopefully they can get a few combinations working.

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Henry had praise for the Lions' latest performance. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO

“The big thing is they dominated territory, possession and their defence was outstanding. Andy Farrell’s work has been very, very good. It’s easy to coach defence, because you haven’t got the ball. It’s easier to work combinations when you’re not playing with the ball.

“They’ll be very happy. There are two areas of concern, one is the attack – they’ll keep working on that – and the other is the scrum. The Crusaders scrum is basically the All Blacks tight five and they gave them a bit of a touch at scrum time and they’ll be concerned.”

Despite the victory over the Crusaders, the Lions continue to receive negative reviews in some quarters, with their style of play up for much debate.

Henry, however, is fascinated by the tactical approach the Lions bring, and how it contrasts with what the All Blacks employ.

“I understand the New Zealand public have been watching the Crusaders, Hurricanes, Highlanders and Chiefs play some amazing footie, but it’s a different game, isn’t it?” said Henry.

“The Europeans play a different game to what we play here, they have to. They play in different positions and they’ve been brought up differently in rugby. They play to their strengths.

“Some New Zealand people think they have to play like the All Blacks, it needs to be spectacle but what they need to do is play the way they normally play and win playing their game. That’s the beauty of rugby, that not all teams play the same.

“That’s what I find fascinating, the contrast in styles.”

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