A GAME OF TWO HALVES…
WHEN JOHNNY SEXTON and Conor Murray first combined as starting half-backs for Ireland, it’s fair to say that the outcome didn’t exactly blow anybody away. We’re going back to a 2011 World Cup game against the USA in New Plymouth when the pair, who would become the greatest half-back partnership in their nation’s history, took their first steps together.
Sexton was asked last year if it was a shock that they’ve endured for so long.
“It is if you saw us play together at the start,” he said. “I didn’t think we’d last much further after three or four caps to be honest.” He had five penalty shots at goal against the Americans and missed four as Ireland toiled badly. Murray hardly pulled up any trees himself. What happened after that, of course, will live forever in the annals of Irish rugby.
They now have a combined total of 172 Ireland caps. They’ve started a record 59 Ireland Tests as the half-back duo. They’ve won three Six Nations Championships, including a Grand Slam, and been on two Lions tours together, winning 11 caps between
