Conor Murray will not play for Ireland against New Zealand in Dublin on Saturday in an encounter between the leading two teams in the world rankings. The Lions scrum-half, who has not played since the summer because of a neck injury, has resumed training but will make his comeback for Munster in the coming weeks.
Ireland confirmed on Monday that Murray would not take part in their autumn series, which ends against the United States next week, while his fellow 2017 Lion Robbie Henshaw has been ruled out of the final two matches after suffering a hamstring injury during Saturday’s victory over Argentina at the Aviva Stadium.
Ireland’s head coach, Joe Schmidt, said after the victory over the Pumas that, while it was unlikely Murray would face the All Blacks, the call would ultimately be the player’s. New Zealand were preparing to face Murray but Kieran Marmion is set to partner Johnny Sexton this weekend with Luke McGrath on the bench.
“Conor is a world–class player but the guys behind him are chasing him,” said Sexton. “They did well against Argentina and I am sure they will go a step this weekend. We have had New Zealand on the radar for a while: you can’t lie and say that it is just another game. They do not come along too often. We have played them three times under Joe and they have all been close games.We want to see where we are in the world and how far we have come since we last played them.”
The Newcastle flanker Gary Graham, who trained with England earlier this year, has been called up by Scotland, who take on South Africa on Saturday. “It would have been silly to have passed up the opportunity offered by England, but I am Scottish through and through and am delighted to get this opportunity,” said the 26-year old Graham. “I want to play for Scotland.”
The Scotland full-back Stuart Hogg will be leaving Glasgow at the end of the season, joining the fly-half Finn Russell in exile. He has not revealed his destination, but he has been linked with Exeter whose full-back Phil Dollman will be 34 next May.
The former England skills manager Rory Teague has been sacked as general manager by Bordeaux-Bègles. He joined the Top 14 club at the start of the year but has paid for a run of four defeats in five league games. Joe Worsley, the former England flanker, has been put in temporary charge.
