SIX NATIONS Countdown:These past few months have been difficult for Geordan Murphy. On his return to Leicester, after a nightmarish World Cup, he was forced to adjust to the methodology former Argentina coach Marcelo Loffreda has attempted to instil at Welford Road.

"He (Marcelo) had a few different ideas. It's been a tough transition in Leicester. He speaks good English but he might struggle sometimes (although) his English is getting better.

"I played under Paddy Howard for three years and he was very forward thinking. Then Marcelo came in and his ideas are obviously very different to Paddy's. He wants us to play a different style. He is basically just changing the whole style of the game and trying to find a good blend. Things that you've done well for three years, trying to keep those patterns and blending in the new ideas as well. It's been tough."

The relentless kicking game adopted by Argentina at the World Cup is hardly something that would appeal to Murphy's attacking instincts. "Marcelo is a backs' coach but he is fond of, when you run out of ideas, to stick it up in the air and run after it. That is a tactic we've seen coming back into world rugby."

It doesn't seem to have overly hindered his performances. "My form has been alright. Nothing too exceptional," he claims but it was deemed sufficient for retention in Eddie O'Sullivan's squad.