Ireland flanker Tommy O’Donnell’s World Cup dreams could be over.
The Munster man had starred in his side’s 35-21 victory over Wales but, with four minutes remaining, sustained a bad injury.
He knocked the ball on after shifting a heavy tackle but one of his legs appeared to stick in the Millennium Stadium turf.
O’Donnell was down, receiving treatment, for several minutes. As time progressed – at least seven minutes – the severity of his injury became apparent.
So bad was the injury that BBC Wales did not replay the incident again after an initial airing.
There was a warm round of applause as he was taken off on a motorised stretcher.
After the game, Joe Schmidt confirmed that the flanker had indeed been taken to hospital for a scan on his hip and an update is expected in the next day or two.
“Tommy’s gone to the hospital to get a scan,” Schmidt said. “At the moment we know he’s hurt his hip but we don’t know what the injury is and we’ll know more about that in the next 24 to 48 hours.”
