O’Connell and Murray face up to six weeks out

Ireland and Munster suffered a huge blow yesterday when both captain Paul O’Connell and scrum-half Conor Murray were ruled out of action for between three and six weeks.

Both players suffered knee injuries during the 17-17 draw with France in Paris on Sunday, with Murray stretchered off midway through the second half at Stade de France. O’Connell finished the game but twisted his left knee and a scan yesterday revealed a medial collateral ligament injury that has ruled him out for the rest of the RBS 6 Nations championship, with an expected recovery period of three to six weeks.

Murray is also out for the rest of the Six Nations after he landed awkwardly on his right knee in the 59th minute but, fortunately, suffered no significant ligament damage. A scan did reveal bone bruising in the joint, however, and the IRFU said yesterday that the 22-year-old had an expected three- to four-week recovery period.