Conor Murray could face the All Blacks

Ireland have not ruled out the possibility of star scrumhalf Conor Murray featuring in the upcoming November Tests.

The first-choice scrum-half has not taken the field since helping Ireland to a series win over the Wallabies in Australia in June after suffering a neck injury during Munster’s pre-season.

The 29-year-old was omitted from head coach Joe Schmidt’s 42-man squad for November’s four internationals.

The absence of Murray’s name from that extended squad led All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen to speculate that it was an “Irish trick” ahead of the eagerly anticipated clash.

Ireland forwards coach Simon Easterby refused to rule Murray out of the clash but he did add that the chances of him facing Argentina were less likely.

Murray is in camp at Carton House this week training with 12 members of the Irish squad not involved in Chicago.

Easterby, speaking at Soldier Field, said of the scrum-half facing the All Blacks: “No, he hasn’t been ruled out.

“He’s been on a longer-term injury list, but he’s in camp this week. He’s been in Carton and we’ll probably assess him as we go through the series.

“Everyone that was selected in that squad is not necessarily fit now, but they’re potentially available throughout the series. We’ll make decisions on each individual case as we go through the series, partly dependant on how well things go this weekend and, hopefully, if we stay injury free, but with Conor, it’s giving him an opportunity to get back in with us, working with some treatment, but also there’s still potential.”

Easterby agreed that the Argentina game at Aviva Stadium on November 10 was coming a little too early for Murray.

“Yeah, I’d say more than likely, but without being there in Dublin now and knowing what he’s going through and what he’s reacting like, we’ll obviously make that call and we’ll get some information on him and his status probably later in the week with a view to preparing for next week.”