‘It doesn’t look great’: Today will tell if O’Connell’s Irish career is over

The Irish rugby squad topped the World Cup pool yesterday with a 24-9 victory over France, but the prognosis isn't good for some of their best players.

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt has admitted that it "doesn't look great" for Paul O'Connell, who was taken off just before half-time with a hamstring injury.

Jonathan Sexton was also taken off at the 25-minute mark with a suspected abductor tear, while Peter O'Mahony ended up with a twisted knee later in the second half.

O'Connell was given oxygen and stretchered off the pitch, clearly in extreme pain, with many speculating his World Cup bid could be over.

"It looks like an upper hamstring. He was in over the ball and just got hit down and through," Schmidt said at a post-match conference, admitting he didn't think the captain's chances were too good.

“For him not to get up and into the defensive line when we were under pressure…. That’s why it doesn’t augur well for next week.

"You just never say never with Paul, so we’re just going to cross our fingers for the next 24 hours."

O'Connell is due to have a scan today once some of the swelling on his injury has gone down, with a definite decision to be made tomorrow.

The 35-year-old played his last game on Irish soil at the end of August before leading the team to Cardiff for the World Cup.

Ireland's flanker Chris Henry said O'Connell had the team "in tears" with an inspirational pre-match speech.

"Paul spoke incredibly well in the changing room," he said.

"He basically had everyone in tears before the match, so it's a brilliant day to be involved in it, and to top the group is incredible feeling."