Murray and Youngs look for spring spark Ireland expects when it comes to Conor Murray, but there’s less certainty in the England camp that Ben Youngs can ignore poor recent club form and produce his Six Nations best, writes Simon Lewis.

Munster and Ireland rugby superstar Conor Murray has slammed the “crazy” and inaccurate rumours he failed a drugs test and missed the start of the season because he was quietly serving a ban.

Conor Murray has opened up on his “hurt” over unfounded rumours that he had failed a drug test earlier this season.

Fresh from first Munster start after his long injury lay-off, Conor Murray paid tribute to the role Garryowen played in making him one of the world’s best players at a gala event in honour of Murray at the Limerick club.

Michael Bradley may have been one of the greatest of all Munster rugby players but the now Zebre coach would enjoy nothing more than to put one over on his old team when the sides meet tomorrow (3.30pm Irish time) at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi in Parma.

The star scrum-half has been named on the bench for Sunday's Pro 14 match against Zebre in Italy.

Just as Munster coach Johann van Graan was relishing the prospect of seeing two key members of his international group return to action after prolonged injury spells came the news that his inspirational second-row forward Jean Kleyn would be sidelined for at least six weeks with a fractured thumb.

Conor Murray and Chris Farrell resumed full training this morning with the Munster squad and will now be considered for a place in the side to meet Zebre in Parma on Sunday next, kick-off 3.30pm Irish time.

Johnny Sexton has admitted it would have been a “big ask” for Conor Murray to have faced the All Blacks this weekend and the Ireland scrum-half not playing was “the smart thing”.

Conor Murray will be “firing on all cylinders” if he makes his first appearance of the season against New Zealand, according to Iain Henderson.

Steve Hansen and his All Blacks arrived in Dublin on Sunday night expecting to face Conor Murray in a contest with Ireland he believes will be a battle to be the best in the world.

Ireland boss Joe Schmidt has admitted Conor Murray’s performances in training this week has given him food for thought about selecting him for a surprise comeback against the All Blacks later this month.

All Blacks' boss Steve Hansen believes doubts over Conor Murray's fitness may be an "Irish trick" ahead of their clash with Joe Schmidt's side in the Aviva Stadium on November 17.

It was a mystery that had occupied the minds of the Irish rugby community all season. Columns were written about it. Radio chat shows were colonised by it. Hands were wrung over it. And all the while Conor

Conor Murray looks set to miss Ireland's four November internationals – the highly-anticipated meeting with the All Blacks included – but aims to be fully fit in good time for Munster's back-to-back European meetings with Castres in December.

There are fears Conor Murray could miss Munster's opening two games in this season's Champions Cup.

What a tour, what a season, what does it all mean?

It is remarkable to think it is only a little more than six months since Jordan Larmour announced himself to the rugby world with a brilliant solo try for Leinster at Thomond Park.

This delicately poised Test series in Australia represents the best possible preparation Ireland could have hoped for a year out from the World Cup, writes Donal Lenihan.

Joe Schmidt is preparing to welcome his big guns for Saturday’s must-win Test against Australia in Melbourne.

He may not be due to arrive in Munster until pre-season later this summer, but new signing Joey Carbery is already getting used to his new province, with Conor Murray revealing the fly-half’s future club-mates have nicknamed him “ROG”.

Conor Murray believes it is easy to ignore all the positive noise swirling around a buoyant Ireland squad as they begin their bid to win a first Test in Australia since 1979.

Conor Murray has warned that Munster can ill afford yet another slow start when they begin their final bid for silverware at Thomond Park tomorrow.

Conor Murray is looking forward to getting Munster’s European exit out of his system when he returns to the side for this Saturday’s Guinness PRO14 quarter-final against Edinburgh at Thomond Park.

In my early weeks in Christchurch I picked up some helpful pointers from the Crusaders’ head coach Scott Robertson, writes Ronan O’Gara.

Conor Murray’s reputation as the leading scrum-half in the Northern Hemisphere, if not the world, will mean the Munster star can expect a lot of attention from Racing 92’s forwards in Bordeaux tomorrow but Johann van Graan says his number nine will not be fazed.

There is plenty of time, perhaps too much, for Ireland’s players to consider their Grand Slam fate but Conor Murray believes the muted response to last Saturday’s Six Nations title success is a good indication that the countdown to Twickenham will proceed in an orderly fashion.

As Conor Murray squirmed on the Aviva Stadium turf, his foot trapped at the bottom of a ruck full of Irish and Welsh bodies, Johann van Graan feared the worst.

Ireland half-backs Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton have been warned they’re in Welsh crosshairs for Saturday’s pivotal Six Nations clash at Lansdowne Road.

Conor Murray is backing new head coach Johann van Graan not to implement sweeping change to the Munster game plan as the squad transitions to the new management team.

Conor Murray is a maker of moments.

Here's your morning news bulletin.

It may have been a good news day overall for Munster boss Rassie Erasmus ahead of Saturday’s European semi-final with Saracens but Conor Murray’s shoulder injury continues to provide a dark cloud over preparations.

Munster supporters were given some good news on the injury front on Monday as Rassie Erasmus gave hope that both CJ Stander and Rory Scannell will be fit to face Saracens in this Saturday's Champions Cup semi-final, although Conor Murray remains a major doubt.

Conor Murray remains a doubt for Munster’s Champions Cup semi-final against Saracens on Saturday afternoon according to the province’s Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus.