Maybe we were put on earth just to confound the English. Across the channel, they observe the international career of Geordan Murphy and shake their heads in quiet befuddlement.

For the past two seasons, the Naas prodigy has been drawing rave notices as part of the storming Leicester side that has sacked just about every stronghold in the home counties and on the continent. Ireland may be a coming force but those who are afforded daily or weekly sightings of Murphy's development are at a loss to understand how he is not at the nucleus of Ireland's game-plan; a Balshaw in green.

He has been selected on the Premiership side of the season for the second successive year. His Irish profile rocketed with the TV broadcasts of the latter stages of Leicester's European Cup triumph and only last week, reports filtered through of his nonchalant trickery during the Barbarians' 74-31 stroll in the company of Joost van der Westhuizen, Josh Kronfeld and Jonah Lomu.

"Yeah, Jonah . . . he is a phenomenon really. Such a big old chap and an incredible asset, particularly if you find yourself in a tight spot. And he doesn't let it go to his head, he is a very approachable guy. But the whole experience was very relaxed, a bit of fun really and to be there with the best in the world, players I would have looked up to, to get to play and socialise with them was something I am incredibly grateful for."

And so here he is, an overseas star burning bright, attempting to kick-start his Irish career on the banks of the Dambovita, around which Bucharest was built in 1459. It is in keeping with Murphy's route to date, which has been anything but straight-forward.

"It's been a bit strange. I got two cheeky caps, one against America and a few minutes against Canada before the Test against Japan last November. And I know I didn't play as well as I could then; I tried too hard to impress. It was a tough occasion to get into because we were winning well and there was hardly any structure on the game. But no excuses, I was deservedly dropped for the next match and this is the first conceivable chance I could have had."

That he nearly didn't take it has been well documented. Murphy's initial intention to bypass this trip in favour of another couple of fun games with the Barbarians came on the heels of bad advice.

"Thankfully I realised that, and that it could have been blown out of proportion and made seem as if I was turning my back on my country which was never the way. It was just a misunderstanding and I called Warren (Gatland) and spoke about it and he was fine. It has been resolved."

Gatland acknowledged as much and commented that it took a bit of moral character for the 23-year-old to call him. And with first-choice full back Girvan Dempsey rusty from seven weeks on the sidelines with injury, Murphy's timing is - as his many English supporters will testify - perfect.

"It is a chance for him," said Irish coach Eddie O'Sullivan, "to pick up from last autumn when, as he will probably admit himself, he didn't perform so well. The months ahead are going to be intense; we are scheduled for six matches close together and we will go through some depth of a squad. And it's the guys who front up now that will put us in a good position."

And Murphy fronts up. Since arriving at Leicester, he has been shuffled from 10 games at full back in his first season to playing centre, to filling in at outhalf for Joel Stransky, to hitting the bench again before finally excelling on the wing. Leicester manager Dean Richards raves about him, once likening him to Georgie Best.

"I hope he was calling me that for all the right reasons," he laughs, embarrassed at the quotation.

Not that Dempsey seeks plaudits anyway. He comes across as remarkably self possessed, unfazed by a match that could decide his international future but at the same time taking nothing for granted.

"Just want to put my head down, play well. The game should be conducive to running rugby. I don't care if I score tries or not myself but it would be nice to put the guys in for a score if I could. It has been a great season at club level and having got this chance now, I will be disappointed if I don't play well."

So far, Murphy's tender hours in an Irish shirt have just highlighted the chasm between top-level club rugby and even ordinary international outings. It is not a matter of skills or speed, sometimes it's just a mental adjustment. Last time out against Japan, everyone expected. Even against South Africa in the A Test, there was a hothouse atmosphere.

Now, Bucharest is lazy with summer and the rugby world is looking the other way. All he needs is a half-gap.