Ireland's iconic half-back pairing are back together tomorrow - and George Gregan reckons they have unfinished business to attend to.
Gregan knows all about world class half back combos, having played in one with ex-Munster coach Stephen Larkham for Australia.
Together they played a world record 78 times together.
READ MORE: Enough of the pigeonholing, says Conor Murray - as he rediscovers his spirit of adventure
Then, until the last World Cup, Ireland had Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton.
Sexton came back stronger from that bad experience and, at 37, is still Ireland's driving force.
Murray, now 33, lost his starting place to Jamison Gibson-Park last year.
But, with the high tempo Leinster no 9 coming from injury, it is the Munster man who starts against South Africa on the occasion of his 100th Ireland cap - and Sexton and Murray will play together for the 65th time for Ireland.
"They’re world class," enthused World Cup winner Gregan. "Those guys are amazing, they’ve played so much together.
"Against that All Blacks team they were the guys who could control that match in Chicago and beat the All Blacks (in 2016).
“I’ve seen them play countlessly in so many big games and they’ve got that awareness and instinct of when to control, when to play off nine, play off 10, who’s going to kick.
"It’s like a sixth sense, it’s a beautiful combination and that comes from just trusting each other and working hard for a long period of time with each other.
"It’s a wonderful combination.
“It’s for others to compare but I know they’re better kickers than myself and Stephen, that’s for sure.”
Murray spoke last weekend of how he has had to stay patient and to go back to the more adventurous early days of his career to stay in the Ireland frame as he aims for a fourth World Cup.
Gregan has been there in terms of fighting hard to stay on top in the selection stakes.
"Yeah, hey, it happens," he said.
"It’s the evolution of time and what the coaches think is best for the squad.
“I know what Conor Murray is like. He’ll start a game pretty damn well.
"He’s a champion player, one of the great scrum-halves ever for Ireland, one of the great scrum-halves in world rugby and his record shows that.
"But there’s a maturity there."
Gregan references the 2006 European tour when he didn't get selected.
The Wallabies tried out Matt Giteau at scrum-half and, subsequently, Gregan had a bench role.
It's not an episode that the 49-year-old likes to talk about but, on reflection, he says it was an opportunity for him to pass on his knowledge, just as colleagues like Peter Slattery had done when he himself was starting off.
"I think that’s a nice part of being in the situation Conor Murray is in, because when he gets on he knows what to do," Gregan said.
"He knows how to control the tempo, how to speed it up, where the space is, how to use his kicking game - how to control the game really, really well.
“There’s something nice about having that as a coach too, someone closing a game out.
"I know it’s a buzz word, 'closers' - but at the end of my career, you come on as a closer and it’s nice.
"You see the game and then you put that in place because there’s just that nice bandwidth of experience and knowing what to do with that time.
"But on Saturday he’ll start like the champion player he is.”
Gregan insists that keeping that appetite to get better and to fight for your place isn't a problem.
“As soon as you stop wanting to prepare but, also compete and contribute. then that’s a sign – OK, I’m done, I’ve had a good run, it’s time to move on," he remarked.
"Whilst you’re still competing, you’ve got something to play for, which I know he does.
“Himself and Johnny Sexton, they’ve got some unfinished business that I’m sure they’ll want to be working towards.
"Regardless if they’re starting or coming from a bench position, you’re contributing to your team and ultimately that’s what matters."
Sage is the Official Insights Partner of Six Nations Rugby and will be powering the Smart Ball this Autumn Nations Series. #SageInsights
READ NEXT:
Derry GAA legend Fergal Doherty charged with manslaughter of pub customer
Increased capacity for Dalymount Park as new €40m design revealed
Dan Sheehan: from sitting on the shoulders of giants to rubbing shoulders with them
All Blacks XV announce star-studded side for Ireland 'A' clash
Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts
