Sharpening the cutting edge

Geordan Murphy didn't have a ticket for Ireland's game against England in Twickenham less than two weeks ago. So he blagged his way into a corporate box and watched the match with strangers. "Did they know who you were?" Murphy was asked yesterday.

"I'm not sure if they remembered me or not," he answered.

As every player knows, there is a chasm between being in the team and just out of it. One year's absence and a player can fade out of sight and mind. Few thought that Murphy would find himself outside the squad this weekend when the team to play Italy was announced. Fewer again believed Eddie O'Sullivan's faith in the Leicester player's ability would have him fast-tracked straight on to the Irish wing. Once again O'Sullivan was a step ahead of the posse. The move, as much an illustration of the coach's ruthless and decisive mind as it is the deep imprint Murphy's spellbinding talent has made, takes out Tyrone Howe from the Irish starting line-up.

Fast on the heels of Kevin Maggs, who made way for Gordon D'Arcy, O'Sullivan has heavily bought into the idea of innate rugby ability transcending what Howe and Maggs brought to the team. The two players have done little to displease yet find themselves, like Murphy just nine days ago, outside looking in.

"None of those boys did anything wrong and it's harsh to drop anyone," he said. "From that point of view I feel sorry for Tyrone, especially. It's really mixed emotions for me. Along with being called back into the side, a friend of mine has been dropped for me. I spoke to Tyrone about it and he was very, very supportive.

He said that if it had been anyone else he would have been upset. The last thing I said to him before leaving the room was "I hope I don't let you down.' There is a big responsibility on my shoulders now, not to let him down."

The extent of Murphy's competitive run-in to the Italian match has been three club matches preceded by a long summer, autumn and winter of recuperation. He came off the bench after eight minutes for Leicester against London Irish, played against the Barbarians and last weekend lined out for Leicester against Northampton Saints. Position wise, it has been a mix of finding his way around both full back and wing.

"I said all along that I was going to play at the end of February. It was just a matter of time before I was willing to come back into a squad like this and say I was ready. The games I played were good games to get me back. The first against London Irish was a physical encounter and I was able to get back up to speed. Against the Barbarians there was obviously a lot of running and that got me a lot of handling and running lines and the game after that against Northampton was a tough local derby.

They've got me mentally right as well." Given the severity of Murphy's injury, sustained playing against Scotland last year, trepidation has followed his every move back. Compound fractures (where the broken bone punctures the skin) to the fibula and tibia and a metal bar that is still in place, serve as queasy reminders. But his pragmatism shines.

"I'd be an absolute liar if I said I wasn't nervous. The first game against London Irish I was absolutely crapping myself. I was very, very nervous. But I've said it to a few people, if I go out again and break my leg then that will be it for a while.

"If it's going to break, then it's going to break but that won't be the end of me. I'll come back again. But talking to the doctor, it's probably stronger now than the other leg.

"As far as I'm concerned now I played as well against Northampton as I was playing before I broke my leg. So, I told Eddie O'Sullivan at the start of the week and he said 'are you all right?' That was a fair question to ask. I had to be honest with myself and I told him that I thought I was all right to play. I told him I thought I was ready. Now I'm excited about the prospect."

Truth is, so is everyone else. With D'Arcy, Brian O'Driscoll and Murphy in an Irish back line, O'Sullivan has as sharp a cutting edge as any coach has had for some years. There's a collective blank refusal to think beyond just beating Italy but Murphy has been selected for a purpose. A good scoreline for Ireland and the Championship itself may open up.

"Geordon is a great attacker. I think it will put another string to our bow," said D'Arcy yesterday. "He's good to go. He's a world-class player," said O'Sullivan.

Not everyone has forgotten who Murphy is.