Knee Injury Rules O’Mahony Out Of Knockout Stages
Ireland flanker Peter O’Mahony has been ruled out of the rest of the Rugby World Cup after sustaining a knee ligament injury against France yesterday.
Team captain Paul O’Connell and Jonathan Sexton, who were also taken off during the 24-9 win in Cardiff, will undergo scans today to determine the extent of their injuries.
Speaking this morning, Ireland team manager Michael Kearney said: “Paul has suffered a significant hamstring injury and was hospitalised overnight and is having scans later today to clarify the extent of the injury.
“Peter O’Mahony has suffered a knee ligament injury and is returning to Dublin today for a specialist opinion and will take no further part in the tournament.
“Johnny suffered a groin injury. The initial clinical assessment is encouraging and we await scanning later today. After an incredibly physical encounter, a whole host of players are reporting bumps and bruises and soreness and will have to be managed, but there is nothing worse than that.”
No decision on squad replacements for O’Mahony or Jared Payne has been made as of yet.
Kearney added: “As soon as we have more clarity on the injury front, we will be in a position to make decisions on replacement players.
“In relation to Jared Payne’s replacement, that’s similar as well. We await a full injury report from yesterday and I am pretty sure a decision will be made later today. The coaches did meet this morning to discuss a number of different options.”
Corkman O’Mahony played in three of Ireland’s Pool D games, excelling in the victories over Italy and France as he helped Joe Schmidt’s men finish top of the table to book a quarter-final date with Argentina.
The flanker’s first Rugby World Cup campaign was unfortunately ended when he was stretchered off with a knee injury in the 54th minute of the French game.