Tuesday 13 October 2015 21:02, UK
Ireland captain Paul O'Connell has been ruled out of the Rugby World Cup.
Lock forward O'Connell suffered a torn hamstring just before half-time in Sunday's 24-9 victory over France in Cardiff and scans have confirmed he will not be able to take any further part in the tournament.
The 35-year-old, who was due to retire from international rugby after the World Cup, will undergo surgery this week and his time out of the game - he signed a two-year contract with Toulon in June after 14 years with Munster - will depend on the outcome of the operation.
Leinster forward Mike McCarthy has been called up as a replacement for O'Connell and he will join up with the Ireland squad on Tuesday ahead of Sunday's quarter-final against Argentina at the Millennium Stadium.
No 8 Jamie Heaslip will take over the captaincy from O'Connell, who has made 108 appearances in 13 years for Ireland.
Sunday's game against France has taken its toll on the Ireland squad with Peter O'Mahony already back in Cork after he suffered serious knee ligament damage, while his fellow back-row forward Sean O'Brien has been banned for one week for an off-the-ball clash with Pascal Pape after appearing before a disciplinary panel on Tuesday.
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A number of the Ireland players have paid tribute to O'Connell after his international career came to a premature end.
"It's been amazing to play with him," said prop Jack McGrath. "He was a true warrior. He never left anything out there on the pitch."
Young centre Robbie Henshaw said: "He was always there to give me advice when I came into the squad.
"I loved and admired the fact he wasn't too intense. He was a truly inspirational leader. Every time he spoke he would say the right thing. It can drive us on but it is an emotional day for everyone."
Flanker Chris Henry said: "The team talk does write itself ultimately this week.
"If you look at past games whenever Ireland have faltered, it's usually Paulie that generates something, smashes someone or gets the ball and does something different. He just keeps going when there's a brick wall in front of him. If we can use that as inspiration, then we will."
Full-back Rob Kearney said: "It is difficult and I felt awful for him. But it was great to see the sheer delight after the game [against France] in terms of what we had achieved, as opposed to feeling sorry for himself.
"He was just delighted and beaming from ear to ear. When you consider that he was so happy and ecstatic after the game and the pain he had been in at half-time, it's those little moments that make changing rooms after games so very special.
"That was brilliant to see and a great sign of the man that he was able to put his own woes behind him and was able to think of the team first."
