Postpublished at 08:39 GMT
08:39 GMT
France v Ireland (Thu, 20:10 GMT)
Image source, Getty Images
Five-time Six Nations winner Conor Murray admits he is “worried” about some of Ireland’s issues heading into next week’s mouthwatering tournament opener against France in Paris.
Ireland, who relinquished their title to Les Bleus in 2025, will travel to Stade de France without several key players through injury, as well as the suspended Bundee Aki.
France, who hammered the Irish 42-27 in Dublin last year, are also without a host of established internationals, but Murray feels Fabien Galthie’s side will have the edge in the French capital next week.
“I think France will be a little bit too tough for the first game,” Murray, who won 125 Ireland caps, said on the Ireland Rugby Social podcast.
“I hate saying that because I’m recently out of the dressing room, but I do think it’ll be a little bit too far to go.
“I do, however, think they’ll put in a performance and we’ll see some sort of shape to what Ireland are trying to do and hopefully a few of the new guys come in and hold their head high after a game like that.”
Murray added: “I’m worried now with the front-row issues and the loose-head situation and the way it ties into the story of the South Africa game [in which the Irish scrum was decimated during November’s Test in Dublin].
“I’m definitely more worried now than I was a few weeks ago.”