However, although the 28-year-old former Glasgow prop would love to represent Britain and Ireland in South Africa next summer, Murray isn’t paying any attention to his plaudits.

"I can't listen to that stuff,” said Murray, who joined Northampton after the 2007 World Cup.

"I would love to go, any player would. But it takes hard work and commitment. You also need to stay injury-free for the whole season.

“As soon as I start thinking that the job is done, I'm beaten.”

Having started all three of his country's November internationals against the All Blacks, Springboks and Canada, Murray was back in club action at the weekend, playing 71 minutes of Northampton's defeat to Gloucester at Kingsholm on Saturday afternoon.