A heartbreaking setback for player and squad, it has similarities to Murphy’s inability to travel to Australia in 2003.

The day before the squad was due to be announced, the Leicester full-back broke his leg in a warm-up game against Scotland.

Adding to the misery was the expectation that Murphy, a fairly unknown quantity in the Test arena at that stage, would be one of the stars of the World Cup.

“David looked in a lot of pain. I’ve been in that situation,” said the Tigers skipper.

“It’s a very hard place to be – the worst time to get an injury is just before you go out to a World Cup.

“It’s a huge, huge disappointment. So much effort and work has gone into the last year.

“If you miss out then there’s a dark cloud hanging over your head for quite a few weeks.

“David’s a fantastic player for us. We do have options in the back row, but David will be sorely missed.”

While Murphy suffered at the hand of injury eight years ago, on this occasion he has profited from the misfortune of another.

The 33-year-old secured his place in Ireland’s squad only after Felix Jones had been ruled out with ankle ligament damage.

The World Cup could be his last outings in an Ireland jersey with yesterday’s match potentially his final appearance at Lansdowne Road.

“It was quite emotional. I’d always intended to seriously consider retiring from international rugby after the World Cup,” said Murphy.

“I haven’t thought about that in depth, but if I do then yesterday will have been my last run out on home soil.”

Only 10 days ago Murphy had accepted he would be spending September and October at Welford Road and not New Zealand – before fate intervened.

“It’s been an emotional roller coaster over the last two weeks. I’ve had it all,” he said.

“I was told last Tuesday week that there was no place for me in the squad.

“I played against Connacht on the Thursday and flew back to Leicester on the Friday with a view to playing that weekend.

“Due to injury on Sunday I was called back in and then because of an injury to Rob Kearney I was back in the Test team.

“There was a full array of emotions – from disappointment to elation and then back to disappointment with not getting the win against England.

“I was injured in January and the doctor said it would be very difficult to get on the plane to New Zealand.

“That was obviously my goal. I worked incredibly hard and had a lot of help.

“It felt like time was running out and two weeks ago I thought the sand had expired.

“I’m excited, I won’t lie. I thought it was a lost cause and was chasing a lost cause for a lot of the year. I pulled out a lot of stops to get there.”

Murphy produced a fine display yesterday topped by his try-saving tackle on England centre Manu Tuilagi, executed after outpacing his Leicester team-mate.

“One of the boys said I did well to catch him, but I think he was just showing respect. He wouldn’t have gassed his club captain to the corner!” he said.

“When he took off I didn’t think I was going to catch him and that would have been pretty embarrassing.”

“When I did catch him I thought ’I have to tackle him’ and that’s the second half of the battle.

“He could quite easily have thrown me into the stands!”