Ankle problem another setback for Murphy

BARRY MURPHY is recovering from an operation to his troubled ankle where a “boney growth” was discovered in Ireland camp two weeks ago.

The Munster outside centre was operated on 11 days ago and, this week, was in rehab with Ireland physiotherapists in Limerick. According to Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan, Murphy will be out of action for at least three weeks.

It’s another setback for the Limerick man, who won two Ireland caps in Argentina this summer. He broke the same ankle during a Magners League game against Ulster in March 2006, which kept him sidelined during the final stages of Munster’s Heineken Cup winning campaign.

The 24-year-old returned to action with his province last October and won a place on the Ireland touring party to Argentina. There, he made his Ireland debut as a late replacement in the first test in Santa Fe.

His injury will be of major concern to Munster fans as it’s unknown when he’ll return to action. If Murphy fails to make the 30-man squad for France, he will definitely be out of Munster’s high profile pre-season friendly against USA in Chicago on August 26.

“Barry had a serious fracture to that ankle last year and he had a plate inserted. We found that he was having problems in training late in the week when the volume was high and investigated and found a boney growth had developed in the ankle,” said O’Sullivan.

“These things can happen. The doctors thought at the start of the season it was best to get it removed. What was going to happen to him was he would continue to have problems with it late in the week every week and that would make it difficult to play. The thing is he could train all week and then break down at the end of the week.

“It was a small operation. He’ll be out for a few weeks but it was better to get it done now than leave it hang on until the end of the season.”

Another major injury concern is Leinster flanker Shane Jennings, who is recovering from a thumb injury which he picked up in the second test against Argentina. A small fracture in his right hand was discovered in early July and, after minor surgery, he took limited part in Ireland’s pre-season conditioning camp. The term of his rehabilitation was put at five to six weeks, but he will definitely miss the Scotland match.