WATCH: Conor Murray’s mouthwatering assist hits home that he’s the best in the world right now

Conor Murray: playmaker supreme.

Conor Murray: unrelenting grit. Conor Murray: the softest hands in Europe. Conor Murray: the best number nine on the planet. It's hard to pick fault with anything Conor Murray is doing right now. The Limerick man has flicked a switch and he's long since sped past beast mode as teams are being lined up one by one and Ireland's priceless number nine is gobbling them up with savage conviction. And he's doing it on rugby pitches all over the world. He's discriminating against no-one. If you come face to face with Munster's warrior, you will be eaten alive. He might toy with you, he might gnaw his way through you or the kill might come in one devastating fell swoop but the arsenal Murray is yielding at present is deadly. The box of tricks he's showing off is pure magical and there's no-one to match him on current form. Aaron Smith came to Chicago and he was beaten out the gate by the wired 27-year-old who is ruthlessly directing traffic with the wand-like command he has over the oval ball. Lions coach, Warren Gatland, name-checked three Irish players during the week - guys who have caught his eye. Naturally, Conor Murray's one that always stands out to him when he's being asked continuously about the squad that's going to be assembled for the trip to New Zealand.

"I was asked about names a few days ago... you give the names - someone like Conor Murray, you look at someone like the way he's playing..."

Gatland said that before trying to play everything down again. He doesn't want to make headlines or talk anyone up but how can you not when the subject is Conor f**king Murray? https://twitter.com/NiallerGeraghty/status/817771641065222144 Paris on Saturday night was just business as usual. Beautiful business. Munster came to town to face Ronan O'Gara's Racing 92 and they destroyed them with 25 points to spare. 32-7 was the final score but it was Conor Murray yet again lighting up proceedings. Just before half time, the scrum half hit Racing with the final blow that would render their second half efforts fruitless, come what may. The number nine breaks away from the scrum and, with the most delicious execution with his right foot, he dinks through with his instep to send Andrew Conway completely clear and in for another try. The vision, the control, the accuracy and weight to keep it within the lines and on track. It is absolutely glorious. It is peak Conor Murray. What this man can do is just crazy. What this man can do cannot be matched. https://twitter.com/ChampionsCup/status/818007355522568192