| Venue: Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes Date: Saturday, 16 September Kick-off: 20:00 BST |
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Conor Murray says Eire have to be “on their guard” after they face a Tonga workforce that may embody “ridiculous athlete” Malakai Fekitoa in Saturday’s World Cup Pool B match in Nantes.
Centre Fekitoa, a 2015 World Cup winner with New Zealand, is considered one of 4 former All Blacks within the Tonga workforce.
Murray performed alongside Fekitoa at Munster final season.
“He is a troublesome competitor, he actually purchased into our tradition when he was at Munster,” stated the Eire scrum-half.
Fekitoa, who received 24 caps for New Zealand earlier than switching to Tonga underneath World Rugby’s birthright amendment, is considered one of 4 former All Blacks – together with Charles Piutau, Augustine Pulu and Vaea Fifita – in Tonga’s beginning workforce.
The 31-year-old made 19 appearances for Munster and began within the Irish province’s United Rugby Championship closing win over the Stormers in Cape City earlier than leaving to hitch Benetton.
“He wasn’t concerned initially for the beginning of the season however he is an final professional, he was at all times doing extras and taking care of himself rather well,” added Murray.
“He fought his manner again into the workforce and was an enormous a part of our end-of-season run.
“He is such a pleasant man and truly led rather well all year long by way of his rugby data, clearly being an All Black and the place he’s now and he is been around the globe.
“Actually skilled and chief. On the pitch he is a large risk. He is actually bodily, a ridiculous athlete, and he is fairly clever. He can usher in gamers like Piutau and set these guys free.
“Their backline is suffering from guys of the scale and tempo of Malakai so we now have to be on our guard for these guys.”
Whereas Eire hammered Romania of their opening sport underneath sunny Bordeaux skies, rain has been predicted for Nantes on Saturday.
The Irish have been unconvincing after they laboured to a warm-up win over Samoa in moist situations in Bayonne final month, and Murray admits they are going to be protecting a “eager eye” on the climate forecast earlier than dealing with Tonga.
“You noticed how that sport went, it was a bit tough for us,” Murray stated of the Samoa match.
“There was a number of stuff, given the climate, that would’ve gone loads higher.”
‘Benefit Tonga if the sport will get unfastened’
Eire got a scare by Samoa of their closing outing earlier than the World Cup with the Pacific Islanders constructing a 13-7 lead within the second half just for the Six Nations champions to say a 17-13 win.
Munster’s Murray was key to Eire’s victory, scoring a second-half attempt, however the 34-year-old admits Tonga will achieve a bonus if Saturday’s match unfolds in the same method.
“[Tonga are] the same outfit,” added Murray, who’s enjoying in his fourth World Cup.
“We have clearly checked out them loads this week, significantly of their highly effective ahead pack and their backline is sort of explosive so just like Samoa in that if the sport will get unfastened, that is benefit to them slightly bit.
“They do have construction round their free-flowing rugby as properly. We have seen that over the week within the evaluation. With a lot of these issues, it may be tough and get unfastened.”
Eire head coach Andy Farrell has named a robust workforce for the Stade de la Beaujoire contest, making simply 4 adjustments from the facet that began the 82-8 destruction of Romania as captain Johnny Sexton is retained at fly-half.
Murray and Mack Hansen exchange Keith Earls and Jamison Gibson-Park within the backs, hooker Ronan Kelleher is in for Rob Herring at hooker and Joe McCarthy makes manner for World Rugby participant of the yr Josh van der Flier.
Saturday’s sport is Fifteenth-ranked Tonga’s event opener having sat out final weekend.