Conor Murray set to face England, but changes in personnel likely

Conor Murray’s chances of facing England in Dublin on Saturday appear to be improving but Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt may make personnel changes elsewhere as he bids to prevent a third defeat of the 2017 RBS 6 Nations campaign.

Ireland will today issue a squad update following Friday’s painful 22-9 defeat to Wales in Cardiff with scrum-half Murray the chief concern after receiving a stinger injury to his left shoulder when tackling George North in the 29th minute.

Murray received treatment on the field but despite clearly struggling with his passing and tackling he remained on the pitch and even emerged for the second half as Ireland battled on in the absence of his yellow-carded half-back partner Johnny Sexton.