Ireland captain Paul O’Connell pulled out of the World Cup and ended his worldwide career on Tuesday as Sean O’Brien faced a rugby judge for punching a French opponent.
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Writing in the Guardian, Henry said France looked “uninterested” in losing to Ireland in Cardiff on Monday.
“We have no time to think about the defeat [against Ireland], we enter another competition, it’s the knockout phase now”.
“It’s the replay, it’s what everyone wants to see, although I know a few people are going to dread it”, he said.
“Not too many words will be needed”.
O’Connell is married to Emily – whom he married in Auch, France, in July 2013 – and with whom he has a four year-old-son Paddy and a daughter Lola born last November.
“The noise when we were warming up, the roar when big tackles or breaks were made, the atmosphere was phenomenal and we’ve no doubts it will be there and thereabouts again this week”.
“Paul and Peter set the tone for what followed on the pitch last week”.
Although such a feat would be unforgettable for most players, O’Connell has no recollection of scoring it, after finding himself at the receiving end of Craig Quinnell’s elbow earlier in the game.
“As soon as we have more clarity on the injury front we will be in a position to make decisions on replacement players”.
But Warren Gatland’s injury-ravaged Red Dragons will need to conjure something special to keep their World Cup hopes alive at Twickenham in Saturday’s first quarter-final. Hopefully it is not a thing which impacts on us. “If we can use that as inspiration, then we will”.
Ireland paid a significant price for beating France 24-9 in Cardiff, but also avoided New Zealand in the quarter-finals of Rugby World Cup 2015.
Ireland coach Joe Schmidt had argued after Sunday’s match that O’Brien had not landed a “closed fist” punch on Pape.
O’Connell has been a talismanic figure for Ireland and Munster for almost fifteen years, making his debut for the southern province in August 2001 and his Irish debut six months later.
O’Connell’s injury would appear to be the most serious, the second rower having left the field of play on a stretcher and Schmidt admits he could miss the remainder of the World Cup as a result.
“I’m disappointed for Paulie, he’s an huge character in the game and a good friend, for this to happen is a cruel blow to him”.
“I had to change my focus after my injury, I just had to work on my fitness and my skills”. There was plenty of laughter when Luke Fitzgerald – urged to “grip it and rip it” by his teammate – let his club slip mid-shot and it went flying 30 meters forward.
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Ireland are yet to name a replacement for centre Jared Payne, but started their cavalry call by adding 24-year-old Leinster flanker Rhys Ruddock to their ranks to offset the loss of O’Mahony.
