Donnacha Ryan believes Paul O’Connell could well stretch his playing career towards his fortieth birthday.

“If anyone thinks it’s a foregone conclusion against Argentina, they don’t know a whole lot about test match rugby.”

The list of Irish injury concerns just got longer with the news that Keith Earls sat out today’s training session in Cardiff.

"Johnny did about 3.5km running, that's a positive," assistant coach Greg Feek said on Wednesday afternoon.

It’s been a tough week for Irish rugby and we all know it could get a lot worse this afternoon, once the result of Sean O’Brien’s citing is announced.

Unable to walk, with searing pain shooting up his leg, Paul O’Connell was “beaming from ear to ear” – even though his World Cup and Test career were shot to pieces.

Rhys Ruddock has been called up to the Ireland rugby camp in place of the injured Peter O’Mahony.

"We need a whole capable squad to win a tournament."

The latest casualty update proved to be something of a mixed bag for Ireland in the wake of the team's exceptional 24-9 defeat of France in the final Pool D game in Cardiff.

The biggest news from Ireland's injury update this morning is that Peter O’Mahony’s World Cup is at an end.

What a performance from the whole team.

It certainly was a game that kept your heart in your mouth.

Keith Earls retains his place in the centre for Ireland’s crucial match against France on Sunday, with Jared Payne absent from the matchday squad.

Louis Picamoles and Noa Nakaitaci will start against Ireland as France go for the jugular against Ireland in Cardiff on Sunday.

Former Ireland fly-half Humphreys backed Ulster powerhouse lock Henderson to gain world superstar status now he has fought his way into Joe Schmidt’s starting line-up.

Wales head coach Warren Gatland has made six changes to his team for Saturday’s World Cup Pool A decider against Australia at Twickenham.

Can’t a rugby international even take a nap in peace?

“For me, playing for England is still my dream."

Forwards coach Easterby has warned Ireland to shut down power-runner Picamoles at source, admitting the Toulouse number eight will pose a significant threat at the Millennium Stadium.

“He’s not big-headed, he’s a very down-to-earth guy so we don’t recognise that at all.“

England have confirmed there was a training ground incident involving Mike Catt and Danny Cipriani but insist it was resolved swiftly.

World Rugby announced that Hooper has been reported for allegedly “charging into a ruck or maul without use of the arms or grasping the player”.

During the post-match press conference last night, a Rugby World Cup press officer's mobile phone interrupted head coach Joe Schmidt.

Sean Cronin acknowledged there was plenty of room for improvement after yesterday’s victory against Italy in Ireland’s third World Cup pool game.

“We’re delighted to come out with a win, but we’ve got a lot to work on.”

France are trying to ease the World Cup pressure by branding Ireland favourites for next weekend’s Pool D decider, according to Sean O’Brien.

“The crowd were amazing, I wish we put on a better performance for them.”

It wasn't pretty but it could just the game to get Ireland into shape for Cardiff next Sunday.

All the excitement from inside and outside the Olympic Stadium.

Ireland booked their place in the World Cup quarter-finals as Keith Earls’ first-half try helped Joe Schmidt’s side to a 16-9 win over Italy.

Congratulations Keith Earls!

Argentina took a huge step to the World Cup quarter-finals with a comprehensive win over Tonga in front of football great Diego Maradona.

Jared Payne must prove his fitness to be eligible for selection, while Rob Kearney continues to recover from his gluteal strain.

Anyone who was in a pub in Ireland watching Wales beat England in the Rugby World Cup will know that we Irish still have a complicated relationship with English sports teams.

The Irish team moved their base to Surrey today after spending last week at the English FA training base.

Completing an eventful few hours was an accusation by former captain Will Carling that Stuart Lancaster had created a “classroom orientated environment”.

“He’s an incredible leader, all the values that you admire in a captain and want in a captain he’s has them - I’m so disappointed for him."

“(The) hair was standing up on my neck when The Fields of Athenry was being sung.”

“I thought he took the tries well and I think he’s played really well in the two games we’ve played so far.“

Ratings for all the Irish players involved in today's 44-10 victory against Romania.

Of the game itself, he felt Joe Schmidt would see plenty of room for improvement.

Ireland left Wembley with the win this evening, but one of the Romanian players left with a prize of his own - a brand new fiancee.

"To have this 90,000 seater stadium filled out with Irish people has been a humbling experience."

An 89,267 Wembley crowd backboned by vast Irish support crowd entered the Rugby World Cup record books as the highest attendance in tournament history.