I’m almost ready to return after neck problem, insists Murray
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“From my side, I said ‘Let’s just keep it here and say I’m managing an injury until we find out how long it’s going to take’.
“I think a week or two later, we said it was a neck injury, that we were managing my neck injury and then by the time we said that, the rumour mill had started, everything had snowballed and it was just this big deal.
“I’m itching to play, I’m pretty much fully training and I feel good. It’s just making sure it’s right and the lines of communication with Munster, the IRFU, the national coaches, everyone has been clear and they’re happy I just get it right and make sure I come back ready to go, rather than pushing it.
“This isn’t an injury you can push, it’s in my neck and you’ve just to make sure it’s strong enough to come back and play professional rugby.”
Commenting on his selections, Schmidt said: “As always there have been a number of close calls in selection, meaning that some very good players have missed out in this particular window.
“The upcoming series offers an exciting opportunity for the squad but will also be very challenging.”
Italy yesterday revealed their full match-day 23 for the game in Soldier Field against Ireland, with number ten Ian McKinley, who lost sight in one eye while representing Leinster and now plays in protective goggles, set to be on the bench against the nation of his birth.
IRELAND SQUAD FOR THE NOVEMBER TEST SERIES, FORWARDS: R Best (Ulster, captain), F Bealham (Connacht), T Beirne (Munster), J Conan, S Cronin, T Furlong, C Healy (all Leinster), I Henderson, R Herring (both Ulster), D Kilcoyne (Munster), D Leavy, J McGrath (both Leinster), J Murphy (Ulster), S O’Brien (Leinster), P O’Mahony (Munster), A Porter (Leinster), Q Roux (Connacht), R Ruddock, James Ryan (both Leinster), John Ryan, N Scannell, CJ Stander (all Munster), D Toner, J van der Flier (both Leinster).
BACKS: W Addison (Ulster), B Aki (Connacht), S Arnold (Munster), R Byrne (Leinster), J Carbery, A Conway (both Munster), J Cooney (Ulster), K Earls (Munster), R Henshaw, R Kearney, J Larmour (all Leinster), K Marmion (Connacht), S McCloskey (Ulster), L McGrath, G Ringrose, J Sexton (all Leinster), J Stockdale (Ulster), D Sweetnam (Munster).