The perception from some of those on the outside is that Conor Murray is lying awake at night, worrying about his place in the Lions team ahead of Saturday’s first Test.

If that really is the case, then Murray is doing a good job of hiding his anxiety from his team-mates because for much of the last couple of days he has basked in the glory of Limerick retaining their Munster hurling title.

It wouldn’t be a big Test week without Murray being written off and doubted, yet those inside the squad, including Tadhg Furlong, haven’t noticed the Ireland scrum-half being distracted by the mounting pressure for his place.

History tells us that Warren Gatland will certainly not shy away from any big selection decision, and for all that Rory Best has first-hand experience of that, he also played with Murray for long enough to know how mentally resilient he is.

When Murray was initially named Lions captain in place of Alun-Wyn Jones, who has since returned to take over the mantle, Best was one of the people he confided in.

“We were texting about it,” the former Ireland captain said.

“I think with someone like Conor, probably his leadership qualities get overlooked a little bit whenever he is with Ireland because there are so many big characters and big leaders.

“You kinda forget that there is more than one way to lead and someone like Conor leads by the sort of person he is, how he plays.

“And to see that recognised on such a big stage is brilliant. I was delighted for him. It’s the highest honour you can get and it’s something that will never be taken away from him,” added Best.

In reality, being named captain won’t mean as much to Murray if he is not starting the Tests. With Ali Price narrowing the gap, Gatland is weighing up his scrum-half options. Best was a two-time Lions tourist and having worked under Gatland in Australia and New Zealand, the Ulster man believes the head coach will have his team primed for the considerable challenge of beating the Springboks in their own backyard.

“One of the first things I remember him saying in Australia (in 2013) was that the training was going to be short,” Best recalled.

“We’d do a bit of fitness but mostly rugby, but he told us that when he was a player and the sessions were two hours, that he’d never want to be out there for that long and when he was a coach he changed that.

“He wanted things short and sharp, not doing work for the sake of it but getting meaningful stuff done. I think when you go way back to his Wasps days, and I don’t know what he was like with Ireland, but things like that were very much ahead of the curve.

“He just has this ability to bring things out of teams and players. He believes rugby is a very simple game and sometimes not overcomplicating things, especially coming together for something like the Lions.

“It plays to your strengths because he just allows rugby players to be rugby players, to go out and be physical. He has a very good way of getting the most out of people, no doubt.

“Look, over the years with Wales, there’s been times when you think, ‘These guys aren’t great, they’re there for the taking’ but they have an ability to peak, especially at World Cups.”

Gatland and Rassie Erasmus’ war of words has been simmering nicely over the last week and although there is a feeling that the Kiwi is different behind the scenes, away from the glare of the media spotlight, Best insists that is not always the case.

“I don’t necessarily know that he is actually that different. He’ll not use 10 words if two is enough, that’s how he is in meetings and that’s how he is with everything.

“He keeps things simple, he’s to the point. I think he’s probably quite a shy character but he does enjoy listening to all the stories and being in that team environment.

“I don’t think he’s that dissimilar to what you see. Sometimes in press conferences you’ll see a bit of his actual character that we see a bit more, that bit of sarcasm.

“He’s definitely not someone who is going to be bullied or out-witted. You get a lot more of that in the team environment but he’s definitely not someone who has to be the centre of attention and in many ways that’s what makes him such a good coach.

“It’s about the players, it’s about everyone else. I remember being with the Barbarians when they unveiled the Gatland Gate (at the Principality Stadium) and he was half mortified but with everything he achieved with Wales it was the least they could do to name a gate after him. But that wasn’t him, he didn’t want to be in the middle of this thing that was all about him.”

This week, however, Gatland will be the centre of attention, as he nails down his team for Saturday’s first Test against South Africa.

Murray will be hoping he makes the headlines for all the right reasons and back up Best’s assertion that he should be a “nailed-on starter”.