Disastrous news from the Irish camp.
Johnny Sexton has been ruled out of Ireland’s World Cup quarter-final with Argentina.
Ian Madigan will start Sunday’s match at the Millennium Stadium while Isaac Boss has been called in to replace the injured Jared Payne.
Here is the IRFU statement:
Post training yesterday Johnny Sexton tightened up and although scans earlier in the week were normal a further scan yesterday afternoon revealed a very minor adductor strain.
It was therefore felt that it was better to withdraw him from the game rather than risk further injury. Ian Madigan will start at out-half and Paddy Jackson comes onto the bench.
Isaac Boss has been brought in to the squad as further scrum-half cover in place of Jared Payne.
With Ian Madigan now starting tomorrow’s match versus Argentina it’s ideal for him to focus fully on the out-half position. The centre position vacated by Jared is well covered by Robbie Henshaw, Keith Earls, Darren Cave and Luke Fitzgerald.