Six Nations blow for Munster's Conor Murray and Keith Earls

Six days out from an Ireland squad announcement for next month’s Six Nations, Conor Murray and Keith Earls hopes of making the cut were dealt the worst blow imaginable

Sat, 14 Jan, 2023 - 07:10

Simon Lewis

Six days out from an Ireland squad announcement for next month’s Six Nations, Conor Murray and Keith Earls hopes of making the cut were dealt the worst blow imaginable when they were omitted from Munster’s matchday squad on Friday.

Munster will welcome Northampton Saints to Thomond Park on Saturday afternoon (3:15pm) for a vital Heineken Champions Cup pool clash without the veteran duo as head coach Graham Rowntree continues to select on form rather than reputation and the repercussions of that policy could have a major impact on Ireland boss Andy Farrell’s thinking as he takes his world number one-ranked side into a World Cup year.