Joe Schmidt has spoken.
Like Ian Madigan, Donnacha Ryan and Marty Moore before him, there is no place in the Ireland squad for Simon Zebo, who earlier this week confirmed he plans to leave Munster at the end of the season.
The 27-year-old back was left out of the extended panel that Schmidt announced this afternoon for upcoming games against South Africa, Fiji and Argentina.
Moments before the 38-man group was announced, Zebo’s best mate, Conor Murray, joined fellow Ireland and Lions player Sean O’Brien in calling for him to be included.
There is a World Cup coming up in two years after all, you need your best players.
But the Munster scrum-half, who, unlike Zebo, is tied to a central contract, did admit that he will weigh up his options post Japan 2019.
"I’m signed up until the end of the World Cup so I’m focused on that," Murray, a Vodafone 'Who We Are is How We Play' ambassador, told RTÉ Sport.
"It’s head-turning like you said so you’d have to weigh up your options at the end of that year or the end of that campaign and see where you stand.
"Certainly from Zeebs point of view it’s a lifestyle change as well, for his partner Elvira, and Jacob and Sofia, two young kids so you have to think of those things as well.
"It all depends on what the set-up is at the time but those are nice options to have as well.
"But we are very well looked after here. Like I said before, that’s where I am until the end of the World Cup."
The IRFU policy is not "set in stone" as Johnny Sexton mentioned during the week but one could imagine that should Murray get itchy feet in two years’ time he might safely find himself in the same bracket as his international out-half, i.e. exempt. Ireland, as it stands, are not as strong in the number 9 position as elsewhere.
But it's not the case for 35-times capped Zebo, who only had a provincial contract. Although it is not official, it’s believed that he will join Racing 92 in Paris, where Ryan and former Munster player Ronan O’Gara reside.
Along with O’Brien, Murray admits that Zebo has an exceptional talent and will be missed.
"He’s obviously one of my best mates," he said. "It would be nice to still play with him in a green jersey as well.
"As a player he’s unbelievable, he’s got that x-factor. As a rugby player he’s very intelligent His positional sense as a full-back over the last couple of years has improved, unbelievably so.
"From my own selfish point of view, as a mate, and to have the best players playing with you or in the squad with you, I’d like to see him being picked to play.
"He knows the risks that are there when he decided to move as well. So he’s well aware of that. Obviously, he’d like to keep playing as well."
4 uncapped players in Ireland's #GuinnessSeries Squad. Congrats Darren Sweetnam, Bundee Aki, Chris Farrell & Adam Byrnes pic.twitter.com/UF2JBsR2QG
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) October 26, 2017
Leinster’s Adam Byrne, Rob and Dave Kearney have been included, as well as Munster backs Andrew Conway, Darren Sweetnam and Keith Earls.
The addition of Ulster’s Jacob Stockdale completes a set that Schmidt believes can make up for the loss of the mercurial Zebo.
Despite Murray selfishly wanting his mate on the panel, he admits he understands the IRFU policy.
The 28-year-old added: "I completely see that risk if they make an exception or whatever that other players will see that as an opportunity that they’ll be able to go and earn a bit more and continue to play international rugby.
"But there’s another side of it as well that’s been said already, if you’re good enough you should play also.
"There hasn’t been an official rule but it’s everyone’s understanding that to play for Ireland and be selected you have to play in the country and play for one of the provinces. Speaking to Simon he knows that too so it’s a risk."
And while Paul O’Connell and Donnacha Ryan were closer to the end of careers when they decided to move to France, there is a danger, Murray concedes, that as the spending power of the French and English clubs increases, it is only a matter of time before the age profile, as witnessed by Madigan and Moore’s moves, comes down.
"I suppose that’s probably what the IRFU and the coaching staff of the national team are worried about," he says.
"Obviously, Johnny went when he was a little bit older and Paulie was due to go before his injury.
"Over the last couple of years the likes of Marty Moore, Mads and Donnacha Ryan has gone now as well so like these guys, they’re a younger profile than the lads than have gone before.
"That’s probably the concern for the IRFU that if that starts to happen that more and more people want to do that and then their heads will be turned at a younger age."
