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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Michael Scully

Conor Murray and Ciarán Frawley out of Autumn Series but better news for Ireland on Robbie Henshaw, Tadhg Furlong and Stuart McCloskey

Conor Murray's Autumn series is over after it was confirmed the first half groin injury he suffered in the victory over South Africa has ruled him out for several weeks.

And Ciarán Frawley's hopes of a debut Test appearance in Saturday's Aviva Stadium clash with Fiji (1pm) have been dashed as the IRFU said he suffered a twisted knee in last Friday night's Ireland A loss to the All Blacks XV.

Murray - who started on his 100th appearance for Ireland but only lasted 27 minutes after suffering the injury when he made a break - and Frawley have returned to Munster and Leinster respectively to continue their rehab ahead of next month's opening Champions Cup fixtures.

READ MORE : South Africa 'A' side to face Munster named for sell-out Páirc Ui Chaoimh clash

However the medics also had some good news for head coach Andy Farrell.

Iain Henderson has returned to the squad fully after getting through some work at the IRFU's high performance centre in Abbotstown last week.

Robbie Henshaw has recovered from the hamstring issue that cost him a starting place at inside centre against the Springboks and will train fully this week.

Along with Murray, both Stuart McCloskey (arm) and Tadhg Furlong (ankle) were gone before the start of the second half on Saturday.

However both are progressing well. McCloskey will train this week after his impressive 27 minute cameo against the world champions, while Furlong is expected to do so.

Skipper Johnny Sexton, who was highly unlikely to start against Fiji anyway, is recovering well from the dead leg he picked up early in the second half on Saturday. The veteran out-half played on until the final minutes.

Michael Milne, who did well on the Emerging Ireland tour in the wins against the Pumas and the Cheetahs, will train with the Ireland squad this week.

However Ryan Baird, who missed out on the Ireland 'A' game as he had not completed his return to play protocols, won't be involved. Similarly, his Leinster colleague Joe McCarthy has returned to the province after failing to return from a HIA in last Friday night's defeat.

Both will continue their return to play protocols with Leinster.

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

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