CONOR MURRAY WILL miss Munster’s European Rugby Champions Cup semi-final with Saracens at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday [KO 3.15pm Irish time, BT Sports].
The scrum-half had emerged as a major doubt this week when Lions coach Warren Gatland revealed he had suffered a setback with his recovery from injury.
Murray suffered what Ireland and Munster have described as a “stinger” injury to his shoulder in the Six Nations defeat to Wales almost six weeks ago.
However, speaking at the Lions squad announcement this week, Gatland stated that Murray is suffering with a neck injury and has visited a neurologist as part of his treatment for the nerve damage.
The news means that Duncan Williams will start in his place and is one of five changes to the team that beat Ulster in the Pro12 last weekend.
They have, however, named no replacement scrum-half with Angus Lloyd, who started last weekend, not in the 23.
Meanwhile, all six Saracens named as part of the Lions team will play start Saturday, five of which will start in the front eight.
Munster XV v Saracens
15. Simon Zebo
14. Andrew Conway
13. Jaco Taute
12. Rory Scannell
11. Keith Earls
10. Tyler Bleyendaal
9. Duncan Williams
1. Dave Kilcoyne
2. Niall Scannell
3. John Ryan
4. Donnacha Ryan
5. Billy Holland
6. Peter O’Mahony (captain)
7. Tommy O’Donnell
8. CJ Stander
Replacements
16. Rhys Marshall
17. James Cronin
18. Stephen Archer
19. Dave O’Callaghan
20. Jean Deysel
21. Ian Keatley
22. Francis Saili
23. Darren Sweetnam
Saracens XV v Munster
15. Alex Goode
14. Chris Ashton
13. Marcelo Bosch
12. Brad Barritt (captain)
11. Sean Maitland
10. Owen Farrell
9. Richard Wigglesworth
1. Mako Vunipola
2. Jamie George
3. Vincent Koch
4. Maro Itoje
5. George Kruis
6. Michael Rhodes
7. Jackson Wray
8. Billy Vunipola
Replacements
16. Schalk Brits
17. Titi Lamositele
18. Petrus Du Plessis
19. Jim Hamilton
20. Schalk Burger
21. Ben Spencer
22. Alex Lozowski
23. Chris Wyles
