CRAIG Casey (Shannon), who suffered a concussion in the opening Test loss to South Africa, will miss the second Test in Durban on Saturday, Ireland coach Andy Farrell has confirmed.
Ulster’s Nathan Doak has been drafted into the squad as back-up.
Casey’s impressive replacement at the weekend, Garryowen’s Conor Murray is now in line to start against the Springboks.
Farrell will name his starting XV on Thursday.
Murray scored a lovely try in Pretoria.
“I feel good, feel fit, feel good about my game for the last part of the season, ready to rock next week,” the 35-year-old said at a subsequent media conference.
“Craig (Casey) played really well, I thought, he had a great game, took a really unfortunate knock.”
Ireland came close to pulling off a win in the first Test.
Murray said: “We were not walking out of there with our heads down afterwards. Andy (Farrell) said in the dressing room afterwards and the playing group felt it as well, that we stayed in the fight and gave it a really good go. We go (to Durban) with a pep in our step.”
