Conor Murray has been ruled out of Ireland’s remaining Nations Series games against Fiji next Saturday (kick-off 1pm) and Australia. As feared, Murray suffered a groin strain in the 36th minute of his 100th cap against South Africa last Saturday and has returned to Munster to commence his rehab.
An IRFU update did not put a timeframe on Murray’s recovery but did reveal relatively positive news from Ireland’s other casualties in their bruising 19-16 win over the Springboks.
“Stuart McCloskey is recovering quickly from the arm issue that forced him off early against South Africa and will train this week. Tadhg Furlong (ankle) is expected to take part in training this week while Ireland captain Johnny Sexton is recovering well from a dead leg,” read the statement.
Furthermore, Robbie Henshaw, who missed out on Saturday’s game due to a hamstring issue, will reintegrate to training this week, which suggests that at worst he will be available for the Australia game.
However, there was also a toll from the Ireland ‘A’ side’s emphatic defeat by an All Blacks XV at the RDS last Friday. Ciarán Frawley suffered a twisted knee and will continue his rehab at Leinster. Joe McCarthy and Ryan Baird will continue their return to play protocols at Leinster.
With Murray, Frawley, McCarthy and Baird all casualties from the original senior squad of 37, five of those players added to the squad for the ‘A’ game have been retained with the senior squad in addition to Iain Henderson. They are Gavin Thornbury, Scot Penny, Max Deegan, Caolin Blade and Jack Crowley.
Michael Milne, who featured against both the Pumas and the Cheetahs for Emerging Ireland in Bloemfontein, will train with the Ireland squad this week.
Ireland Squad – Bank of Ireland Nations Series:
Backs (16)
Robert Baloucoune (Ulster/Enniskillen) 3 caps
Caolin Blade (Connacht/Galwegians) 1 cap
Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf) 36 caps
Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon) 5 caps
Jack Crowley (Munster/Cork Constitution) uncapped
Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 21 caps
Mack Hansen (Connacht) 7 caps
Robbie Henshaw (Leinster/Buccaneers) 60 caps
Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 24 caps
Michael Lowry (Ulster/Banbridge) 1 cap
Stuart McCloskey (Ulster/Bangor) 7 caps
Calvin Nash (Munster/Young Munster)
Jimmy O’Brien (Leinster/Naas) 1 cap
Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 45 caps
Johnny Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 109 caps CAPTAIN
Jacob Stockdale (Ulster/Lurgan) 35 caps
Forwards (23)
Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 26 caps
Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne) 34 caps
Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 31 caps
Max Deegan (Leinster/Lansdowne) 1 cap
Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 21 caps
Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf) 61 caps
Dave Heffernan (Connacht/Buccaneers) 7 caps
Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 119 caps
Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy) 68 caps
Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 29 caps
Jeremy Loughman (Munster/Garryowen) uncapped
Mike Milne (Leinster/UCD) uncapped
Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 88 caps
Tom O’Toole (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 3 caps
Scott Penny (Leinster/UCD) uncapped
Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 47 caps
Cian Prendergast (Connacht) uncapped
James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 47 caps
Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Lansdowne) 11 caps
Gavin Thornbury (Connacht) uncapped
Nick Timoney (Ulster/Banbridge) 2 caps
Kieran Treadwell (Ulster/Ballymena) 9 caps
Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 44 caps
Bank of Ireland Nations Series Fixtures:
Ireland v Fiji: Saturday 12th November, 2022, Aviva Stadium, KO 13:00
Ireland v Australia: Saturday 19th November, 2022, Aviva Stadium, KO 20:00
