Ireland set to face Argentina without O’Connell, O’Mahony and O’Brien

Ireland are bracing themselves to face Argentina in the World Cup quarter-final without pivotal pack leaders Paul O’Connell, Peter O’Mahony and Sean O’Brien.

Talismanic captain O’Connell’s World Cup and Test-career-ending hamstring injury is expected to be confirmed by Ireland today, with flanker O’Mahony having already flown home to Cork with serious knee ligament trouble.