Monday 12 November 2018 18:13, UK
Conor Murray and Robbie Henshaw have been ruled out of Ireland's remaining Guinness Series matches against New Zealand and the USA.
Ireland, who defeated Argentina on Saturday, face the All Blacks at the Aviva Stadium on November 17 before hosting the USA the following week at the same venue.
British and Irish Lions scrum-half Murray has not played since damaging his neck on Ireland's summer tour to Australia in June.
Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt had admitted after Saturday's 28-17 victory that Murray was still in the running for a surprise return to take on New Zealand.
Murray was omitted from Ireland's 42-man autumn Test squad, and will now not feature this month.
"Conor Murray is accelerating through his recovery but will not join the squad during the Guinness Series window," the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) confirmed in a statement.
Johnny Sexton believes Murray made a "smart" decision in ruling himself out of the Test against the All Blacks.
"I obviously stayed in touch with Conor a lot over the injury to see how he has been getting on and all the time he's been improving, but I suppose he's just trying to make sure he can get it right from now and it not be an issue going forward," said Sexton.
"It's probably a smart thing. It's a big ask. If you're out for a few weeks and you're asked to play the All Blacks, that's tough enough.
"But if you're out for the period of time he has been out for, it would be a big step in.
"Hopefully, we'll see him back soon, I'm not sure how soon but obviously he's a quality player, we'd hope to have him back, whether Munster or Ireland, whenever he can."
