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'I was gutted' - Blair Murray opens up on controversial Six Nations incident
By Simon Thomas
Blair Murray tells a little tale which shows just how much his life has changed over the past six months.
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“I made a mistake the other day,” reveals Wales’ new star turn.
“I was going for a walk through the park and there was a sevens tournament on. I wasn’t really thinking. I was just walking along with my headphones in.
“I got stopped every 50 metres with boys coming over and asking for a photo and all that.
“I don’t get it bad compared to what I’m sure some other people do.
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“It’s a compliment when fans come up to you. It shows you are doing something right and they appreciate the work you are putting in.
“I try to give back as much as I can. So, if they want a photo or a signature, I am happy to oblige and help them out with that. It’s all part of it.”
It was all very different when the Taranaki-born Murray first arrived in west Wales last summer amid limited fanfare, joining the Scarlets from Canterbury in New Zealand.
There would have been no one recognising the young blond-haired newcomer at that point. But that has all changed now, such has been his remarkably rapid rise to household name status.
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After only five appearances on the wing for the Scarlets, he was fast-tracked into the Wales squad for the autumn internationals, being eligible through his Tonyrefail-born mother.
He scored a try just eight minutes into his debut against Fiji and has gone on to figure in every Test since then, switching to full-back along the way.
Amid the general gloom surrounding the national team, he has been a shining light with his defence-splintering running game.
It’s been some season for the 23-year-old and he’s not done yet, as he sets his sights on helping the Scarlets make the URC play-offs, with a crucial Judgement Day clash with the Dragons coming up at the Principality Stadium next Saturday.
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So, with so much going on, has he had a chance to take it all in yet?
“After the Six Nations, I had a couple of days just chilling out and thinking back on it,” he replies.
“Honestly, it still surprises me how quick everything happened.
“It’s been unbelievable and I’m so grateful for the opportunities that I’ve had so far. I have loved every minute of being over here. It took a little bit of getting used to, but it’s been a great challenge. It’s been awesome.
“I am just about coming out of the pinching myself stage! It’s been such a cool experience, I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
As for his main takeaways from that experience, he says:
“The first thing is probably the fact that I am just living my dream.
“Since being a little boy, as with many kids all over the world, you dream of being a professional rugby player and running out, listening to the national anthem and playing out on the field.
“I’ve always been very aware of my Welsh family roots and I’ve always had that in mind. Mum made sure I would never forget it!
“One of my main goals when I came over here was to try and play for Wales. So, being able to live my dream has been amazing.
“On top of that, having a lot of my family here to see it as well has been awesome – the fact my parents and my sister were able to come over from Taranaki for my first few games.
“They saw Fiji, Australia and South Africa in the autumn. It was fantastic to have them there, along with my aunties, uncles and cousins.
“I had family come to the Six Nations too and it’s just awesome to be able to play in front of them and to try and make them proud. They have always wanted me to play for Wales, so I am sure they are stoked that I am here. It’s just been amazing.”
Ask him to explain the different challenges presented by international rugby and he replies: “Everything.
“It was definitely a step up in terms of the speed of it. You are running a lot more and it’s a lot faster as well.
“Then there’s the physicality. You are going up against the best rugby player athletes from across the world. It’s harder and it’s just the skill sets as well.
“If you are one step behind, then the other team is going to take advantage of it and beat you. There is a lot less room for error and you’ve got to be a lot more mentally switched on, as well as physically at your peak.”
But, despite being confronted by that step up, Murray has flourished in the Test arena.
In the Six Nations clash with Ireland, he set a new Welsh record for the Championship by beating 11 defenders, surpassing the previous best set by Scott Quinnell against Italy in 2000.
Then, in the next match against Scotland, he appeared to have set up one of the tries of the tournament when he left four opponents in his wake before sending Taulupe Faletau away to the line.
However, the score was ruled out for him having jumped over prop Will Hurd during the course of his dazzling run.
“I didn’t think about it at the time. It was just instinctive,” he recalls.
“When they went to the TMO, I thought ‘Hang on, what’s happening here?’. Then, when I saw the replay, I thought ‘Oh, right’.
“I was gutted. Yes, I know the rules are you can’t jump over people, but I have seen others do it and not be penalised.
“The same thing happened in a Super Rugby match that weekend and two weeks later one of the Scottish women players did it over a Welsh player.”
As for how often he has viewed his own leap, he says: “It came up a fair bit on my Instagram and I had people sending it to me, so I saw it a few times.
“The ref wasn’t wrong in making the call. It is tough, but you just have to live with it.
“It would have been cool for the try to stand, but I will learn from it and try to do something different next time.”
Looking ahead then, what of his positional future?
“I see myself as a bit of a do it all,” he replies.
“I prefer playing at full-back because there’s a little bit more freedom, a bit more ball in hand and a bit more space.
“But wherever I need to be and wherever gets me on the field, I’m happy to play there.”
Giving his own thoughts on his strengths, the 5ft 8ins, 11st 11lbs Murray – who goes by the nickname Buzz – says: “It’s definitely not my size!
“I would probably say speed and agility.
“I have still got plenty to work on. At training, I am working on everything that I want to improve.”
Having began his rugby journey at the age of five with the Southern club in the Taranaki town of Hawera, Blair went on to attend New Plymouth Boys High and represent New Zealand Schoolboys, before heading down to Christchurch in the south island to join the Crusaders Academy.
He then spent a couple of seasons with Canterbury in the National Provincial Championship before heading for the land of his mum.
Ahead of signing for the Scarlets, he sought the advice of his childhood hero Leigh Halfpenny who was at the Crusaders at the time.
“I had a couple of chats with him and he was saying how I was going to love it,” he explains.
“He said the coaching staff, the management, the players, the fans and the whole set-up was awesome.
“He basically had nothing bad to say about them which made my decision a lot easier.
“I have been loving it since coming over. The boys are great, very similar to back home. Everyone gets around each other and helps each other out. It’s like a family environment.
“It’s been awesome that the coaches have had the confidence in me to go out there and do my thing. I try to do them proud and do my family proud. It’s been great.
“None of this would have happened if the Scarlets hadn’t had faith in me
“I had only played semi professional back in New Zealand, so the fact they saw something in me and were happy to bring me over, I was stoked for that.
“I have got so much to give back to them, so hopefully we can make it through to the play-offs and have a little push for the finals.”
That brings us round to next weekend’s vital Judgement Day meeting with the Dragons which will follow the showdown between the Ospreys and Cardiff who are also vying for the play-offs.
On the concept of the derby double header, the eight-cap Murray says: “I think it’s a great idea. It’s awesome for Welsh rugby, for the players and the fans as well, with everyone getting together and mixing.
“I am hoping it will be a good crowd. That will be key to a nice atmosphere, just getting as many people there as possible.
“It’s a must win for us. It’s massive. The Dragons have got plenty to play for, as well, in terms of pride and playing for their fans.
“They will want to do a job. They won’t want to just roll over and give us a win. They will want to go out there and put in a good performance. So it’s going to be a bloody tough game and I’m looking forward to it.”
It’s been a long and highly eventful campaign for Murray, while there’s a summer tour on the international horizon, but this amiable and talented young man shows no sign of flagging.
He concludes: “I am enjoying my sport and I’m enjoying life. You can’t ask for much more than that.”
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