Conor Murray ruled out of Fiji and Australia Tests

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.

[ Ireland v South Africa: Murray fronted up strongly while Gibson-Park made a massive impact ]

“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.

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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