O’Connell could be suspended

IRELAND will launch a powerful legal defence to prevent Paul O’Connell being thrown out of the World Cup.

O'Connell, 24 tomorrow, is facing the worst possible birthday present after Namibian coach Dave Waterstone blasted the second-row's "unsavoury" second-half attack on Archie Graham.

Within the next 24 hours an independent citing commissioner will have to decide whether to haul O'Connell in front of a three-man disciplinary panel to answer stamping allegations.