RUGBY:IT HAS been a stressful few days for everyone involved. Tough choices were made. At least Declan Kidney could make one easy phone call last Sunday morning.
Conor Murray’s house mate, and fellow Munster player, Declan Cusack found out at the same time.
“Deccie’s room was next door and I was trying to keep it quiet but he could hear through the walls and he came running in to me.”
Fergus McFadden refused to believe the dream was nearing reality despite an email telling him to bring his passport to Carton House. Confirmation only came on arrival when he counted just 29 other heads, coupled with the absence of his friend Luke Fitzgerald.
“Some lads were going to Declan and asking him where they stood. I didn’t want to, to be honest, because I was a bit worried about what he was going to say. I was just trying to let my actions do the talking.”
The selection of McFadden and Murray in Ireland’s World Cup squad yesterday is proof that the era of stars has passed. These two have ground their way into contention, devouring the few crumbs tossed their way.
Neither was earmarked for greatness during their teenage years; unlike Gordon D’Arcy or later Rob Kearney and Fitzgerald. Their journeys to this moment may have been without fanfare but both have a legitimate chance of breaking into the starting XV in New Zealand.
“Now is where the real work starts because in the last couple of weeks people were kind of looking over their shoulders and wondering if they’re training well and doing well,” said a clearly relieved McFadden. “Now we can just be ourselves and get on with things and try to let everything come together before the first match against the States.”
There is a stark contrast in the development of the squad ‘bolters’ from the unfortunate Tomás O’Leary and Fitzgerald. The omitted duo were selected for the British and Irish Lions two years ago, when Murray and McFadden were relative unknowns.
True, McFadden is already 25 and has made serious progress, like being the Churchill Cup player of the tournament in 2009. Yet, it wasn’t until Joe Schmidt sprung him from the bench to right wing against Racing Metro last October that he became a genuine international contender. His try that day showed he possesses genuine pace, as well as unbridled aggression.
“I think when Cheiks was at Leinster I was probably slowly being integrated into the squad, I probably wasn’t given as many opportunities as I would have liked.
“And since Joe has come in I feel like I’ve really come on as a player and I was given a lot more game time last year which I found definitely brought me on.”
Despite a string of decent performances, and burrowing over for a try against France, he was dropped by Declan Kidney during the Six Nations when Paddy Wallace was chosen as cover for the outside backs.
Murray’s rise is now seen as the best example of how the provincial Academy system can work. He is yet to play Heineken Cup. Word from Munster is the 6ft 1in scrumhalf, of Patrickswell hurling stock, is a coach’s dream. Think Mike Phillips – without the personality glitches that get you arrested outside McDonalds at 3am on a Sunday morning.
This exemplary attitude surely contributed to Tony McGahan promoting him ahead of Peter Stringer this season and then retaining him even when O’Leary returned to fitness.
The calmness, allied to solid technique, he exuded when coming on for his first cap against France in Bordeaux 10 days ago must have helped make up Kidney’s mind. His physicality makes him an enticing alternative to Eoin Reddan, presumably the starter against Australia on September 17th, and Isaac Boss.
“I’ll just keep training hard like I’ve been doing all summer and if the chance comes my way hopefully I’ll be able to take it.”
Brian O’Driscoll yesterday challenged the 22-year-old to become a more vocal member of the group.
“He’s quite a quiet guy, probably more comfortable with guys that he knows but it’s going to be case of, over the next few weeks, of coming out of his shell a little bit,” said Ireland’s captain. “A nine needs to dominate things and I don’t think he’s afraid to do that on the pitch, he’ll boss people around and I’m looking forward to being out training, building a bit more of a bond with him.”
Murray agrees: “That’s probably the main thing I’ve worked on in the last few years – communication. I’d be quite quiet off the pitch. In the last few years since I’ve been at Munster especially people have commented on how much (it has improved), especially (Garryowen coach) Greg Oliver. He’s picked that out in my game and said it’s improved immensely.”
McFadden’s road has been tougher and longer; he had to bludgeon his way into this squad.
An example. Not so long ago, Ulster’s Nevin Spence was being tipped as a potential late runner for inclusion, but the sight of McFadden barrelling over him in a league match resonates.
“I had to work hard the last eight or nine weeks in training but I thought it was a successful season for me last year, there’s been a lot of hard work and a lot of goals to get through over the last couple of years. It’s a great honour to be picked, a great day.”
Now they must get down to the serious business.
