THE HERALD REPORTS

Gospel according to Scotland prop Euan Murray anything but holier than thou


Euan Murray will return after missing out against France
Alasdair Reid

Published on 11 Feb 2010
All things considered, Euan Murray was never going to respond to his Scotland recall by marching into the President’s Suite at Murrayfield and declaring himself the nation’s saviour.

And he certainly wouldn’t be saying he’d be any sort of messiah. Second coming? Scrub that, too.

No, as he sat down to talk about his selection to face Wales in Cardiff on Saturday, the mighty and devoutly Christian prop made his return in the sort of low-key and laconic style that has become his trademark. As frightening as it might be to experience the ferocious power he exerts in the front row, in conversation you would still feel the urge to give him the occasional sharp prod out of concern that he might drop off at any moment.

Yet it was the strength of his faith rather than his body that made Murray the focus of attention when it was revealed he had decided to rule himself out of Scotland’s opening RBS 6 Nations match against France last weekend on the basis that the game was to be played on a Sunday. His convictions may have cost him a pretty penny in match fees, but Scotland’s loss looked even greater as they struggled to establish the set-piece solidity that Murray’s near-19st frame usually brings.

As it happened, most of Scotland’s problems seemed to stem from the loosehead side of the scrum, rather than the tighthead berth Murray generally occupies. Inevitably, though, it was temporary tighthead Moray Low who had to make way for Murray’s return, and it’s easy to sense the older player’s embarrassment over that scenario.

What I do on Sundays is personal. We’re here to talk about rugby
Euan Murray, Scotland prop
“He’s a very good player and he’s young,” said Murray of Low, who had also worn the No.3 shirt during the autumn Tests when Murray was injured. “He’s got his whole career ahead of him. He’s got a lot of talent and I’m sure he’ll keep knocking at the door.”

So while Scotland struggled to stop France, how did Murray pass his day? 
“I went to church,” he said flatly. “I go in the morning and the evening. And I spent the afternoon with my family.”

Yet while his father watched the game on television in the living room of the family home, Murray busied himself in the kitchen. Was he being true to his Sabbatarian beliefs or was it simply too difficult to detach himself from the action? His answer suggests the former.

“What I do on Sundays is personal,” he said with firm emphasis. “We’re here to talk about rugby.”

In fairness, Murray has had the unqualified support of his Scotland team-mates for a decision most of them acknowledge must have been difficult to reach. “They’ve been with me through the good and the bad,” he explained. “They’ve seen both sides of my life, before I was a Christian and after.”

Murray opted out of Sunday games last summer when he renegotiated his contract at Northampton. Previously, he had been bound by conditions that gave him no choice in the matter, but the renewal gave him the chance to agree new terms. At the same time, his faith appears to have deepened with every passing season; last year, he was prepared to play in Scotland’s opening Six Nations match – also on a Sunday – until ruled out by injury. But how does he resolve the apparent contradiction between his faith and the fact that his greatest talent – his God-given gift you might say – is for making life horribly uncomfortable for opponents?

“I read about the Jesus of the bible,” he began. “He’s the son of God, perfect in every way, but he’s also the ultimate man and, at times, he was aggressive and yet he never did anything wrong. So there are times when you can be aggressive and not do anything wrong. I don’t go out and hit people with hatred, because that would be wrong. But I go out and I try to smash people as hard as I can.”

Almost 11 months have passed since Murray last played international rugby. He was selected for the Lions tour to South Africa, but an ankle injury, sustained against the Southern Kings, ruled him out of the Test series.

“It was a big disappointment,” he said. “I didn’t play much rugby at all. But on the other hand, it was a very enjoyable tour. Just the social side of it. Touring around, meeting lots of different people, making friends within the squad and without. It was a good experience.”

Scotland expects great things of Murray in Cardiff. He is, unquestionably, a world-class player, but he will carry a burden on his shoulders. “I just come in and do what I do,” he said. “If there’s a leading role there then I’ll do that.”

Can Murray part the red sea? Let’s not go there either.

This article was posted on 12-Feb-2010, 09:25 by Hugh Barrow.