Conor Murray looking good to answer Ireland’s call

Joe Schmidt finally had some good news to share as he named a trimmed-down Ireland squad for the first two rounds of the RBS 6 Nations, with first-choice scrum-half Conor Murray expected to be fit to face Italy in Rome on Saturday.

Schmidt cut his extended squad from 46 down to 38 last night with wings Fergus McFadden and Craig Gilroy among those dropping out, the backs duo having suffered injuries in last Friday night’s 18-9 Ireland Wolfhounds loss to England Saxons.

Yet the overriding tone of the squad announcement was positive, with encouraging fitness updates, not just on Murray but also his rival number nine Eoin Reddan, No.8 Jamie Heaslip and outside backs Dave Kearney and Luke Fitzgerald.