Thursday 19 January 2017 07:01, UK
Conor Murray insists Munster followed “every protocol possible” when treating him following his collision with Glasgow Warriors’ Tim Swinson last Saturday.
During Munster's 14-12 Champions Cup victory, Murray was shown lying prone on the ground after he attempted to tackle Glasgow second row Swinson in the 63rd minute and was taken off two minutes later to undergo a head injury assessment (HIA).
The EPCR medical advisory group has set up an independent working group to investigate the matter but Murray revealed he hurt his neck rather than his head and says he is fit to start against Racing 92 on Saturday.
"We are very confident that we followed every protocol possible and beyond that I think it is a case that I lay there for a moment or two and to some people that probably looked like I was out. But I was speaking, it was my neck I had hurt," said Murray.
"They are trying to protect players and improve this whole concussion, the way we treat it, the way we approach it and how you get through a concussion and return to play, and they are constantly trying to improve it. But I'm very confident we followed every rule and every protocol possible."
Munster director of rugby Rassie Erasmus was keen to play down the idea that the Munster scrum-half was specifically targeted during the match.
"Targeted might be interpreted in the wrong way," Erasmus said. "I think tactically they wanted to put him under pressure and some of it was physical and some of it more mental. To be fair to Conor he handled it well and we won the match.
"The most important thing is that he is uninjured and he is fit to play for us and Ireland in the next few weeks. If he is part of the team's plans and it is within the laws, then it is all good. And it is for the referees to decide that.
"For me to moan about things like that, I might make some mistakes in my coaching career going forward by tactics which might be seen as not the best in the world so I would leave it to the referees to decide."