Schmidt struggling with suspected appendicitis

Ireland coach Joe Schmidt has been taken from Ireland's win over Australia at the Aviva Stadium to be assessed for suspected appendicitis.

The IRFU confirmed that Schmidt "manned-up" during the game, but has been struggling all day with it.

Ireland's assistant coaches, Les Kiss and Simon Easterby, are dealing with media duties until medics assess the health of Schmidt.

The former Leinster boss kept his counsel on his illness to guide Ireland to their first autumn Test series clean sweep since 2006.

At the final whistle, rather than fulfil usual media and other commitments, Schmidt headed off for further examination with medics offering a tentative appendicitis diagnosis.

Ireland assistant coach Les Kiss said boss Schmidt ``toughed out the day'' in typically understated fashion.

“He’s just going to be assessed; he’s had some pretty bad stomach pains through the day,” said Kiss.

“He toughed out the day in true Joe style, but will now just undergo further tests.”

Ireland captain Paul O’Connell said without prior knowledge no one would have realised Schmidt was battling a nasty illness.

“Guys were aware he was sick, he was kind of stand-offish, he was worried about passing on anything he had,” said O’Connell.

“If you hadn’t have been told, I don’t think anyone would have known.”