Denis Leamy's Munster Rugby looking forward to Northampton Saints challenge

MUNSTER Rugby's defence coach Denis Leamy said it was "obvious the talent" that Conor Murray had coming through the ranks of Munster. 

Speaking on the same day as Murray signed a one-year contract extension with the province Leamy went on to state: "It is always difficult to known the length of anyone's career in rugby but what was obvious was the talent he had, his ability, his calmness and work ethic.

"Through that sort of application of his game throughout the years he has progressed and improved. Conor has had his injuries but has always responded well to them and he has a tremendous career for Munster, Ireland and the Lions and he is one of the best players I've played with and one of the best over the last 25 years, an incredible talent."

A former St Munchin’s College student, the Garryowen man won his fifth 6 Nations title with Ireland last month and earned his second league title with Munster last season.

The 34-year-old has made 185 Munster appearances and scored 34 tries for the province to date and was named on World Rugby’s Team of the Decade in 2019.

The scrum-half was one of three players that signed contract extensions with Munster today, Wednesday. Along with Murray, Munster's Jack Daly has also signed a one-year extension. Brian Gleeson is the final player to sign an extension with the youngster being promoted from the Academy to the senior squad next season. 

Denis Leamy and his side are preparing for their knock-out Heineken Champions Cup clash away to Northampton Saints this Sunday, April 7 at 12:30pm. 

The last time the sides met was back in January when Saints got the better of the Munster men, 26-23, during the group stages of the competition. 

Speaking about the challenge the Northampton team pose Leamy went on to say: "It is a great challenge for our defence, they are a great attacking team. They are very well put together with some amount of talent not just in their pack, it is right across the park, but we need to concentrate on ourselves. 

"We have the lowest amount of tries conceded in our regular league so that is stuff we need to fall back on and trust our principles with a bit of physicality in the mix as well."