IRELAND COACH JOE Schmidt expects scrum-half Conor Murray to return to full fitness in time for Ireland’s potential Six Nations Championship decider against France next Saturday.
The Munster man was replaced after just 20 minutes of the 46 – 7 win over Italy today and replaced by Eoin Reddan.
Despite gingerly departing the field, his coach is confident that he will be available again next week, revealing that Murray had been sick overnight.
“He vomited yesterday evening, but had no temperature. He seemed fully fit,” the Kiwi said post-match.
“Once he got that ding, he went up to take a high ball on the near side touch and got a real ding in the ribs and he felt he was really jaded - I would be really confident that he’ll be fine.”
Schmidt made no mention of Cian Healy specifically, but the loosehead was in visible discomfort after scoring his 52nd minute try. And in the tunnel post-match, TheScore.ie spotted the prop wearing a protective boot on his way out.
“I think everyone else came through fine,” Schmidt added, his demeanour now turning jovial despite the ‘bumps and bruises’.
“Drico, we got him off to look after him for next week. Paul O’Connell got a little bit of cramp at the end and we said maybe we should sub him, but we had no one left so he had to keep going.”
