VIDEO: Wallabies wary of the Murray factor
JUNE TEST SPOTLIGHT: Australia scrumhalf Will Genia admits nullifying Ireland Conor Murray’s lethal box kicks will make his job easier when the two teams meet on Saturday in Brisbane.
Genia is under no illusion the massive challenge they face especially having started at scrumhalf when Ireland last faced the Wallabies in the southern hemisphere – at the 2011 World Cup.
Since then the two sides have met three times in Dublin and Australia have managed just one win in 2013. 
Seems like the pattern could repeat itself this year. Ireland come into the three-Test series in sublime form, having bagged a Six Nations Grand Slam, and currently sitting at No.2 on the World Rugby rankings.
The Irish success continued at club level with province Leinster securing a historic double by winning the European Champions Cup and the Pro14.
Thus if Australia would want to secure a series victory on home soil, Genia revealed that Micheal Cheika’s team will have to find a way to halt the effectiveness of Munster scrumhalf Conor Murray’s boot.
“[Ireland] like holding onto the ball and building phases, building pressure but then they’ve got Johnny Sexton, who can sit back in the pocket and plug a corner, [Conor] Murray with the box kicks who can put pressure on you in that sense,” Genia told reporters at the Wallabies training camp.
“[Connor Murray] is a big guy and he’s obviously a very good ball runner, he’s very strong and can be physical in defence.
“But obviously just he’s tactical kicking – that’s something he does very well – probably better than anyone else.
“He can put the ball exactly where he wants which creates a lot of pressure.
“If they get that back they can get 30, 40 metres on the front foot.
“It doesn’t give you the chance to counterattack with guys like Izzy [Israel Folau], guys like Dane [Haylett-Petty] or Marika [Koroibete].
“That’s a big part of his game that we’ve spoken about and certainly have to address come game day,”
Genia has been out of action for five weeks after he suffered a strained MCL against the Crusaders.
The 30-year-old made a full recovery and could have returned in the Rebels’ win over the Blues last weekend but opted to rest for the first Test of the year.
“I feel pretty good,” he said.
“The biggest thing for me is just making sure I get the work done from a conditioning perspective.
“We’ve had a good couple of weeks just running, running and running.
“Now it’s just about getting the footy down, finding some rhythm and getting good to go on Saturday,”
Source: @rugbycomau
