Rugby:The injury sustained by Rory Best, feared to be a broken collarbone, during today's win over Italy is the most pressing concern for the Irish management as they turn their attentions to next weekend's quarter-final against Wales.
The hooker has had an outstanding tournament, his presence in the front row solidifying what is rightly considered a fearsome Irish scrum while his work in the loose has been immense.
Best, who stopped Martin Castrogiovanni on the Irish line when today’s game was still in the balance, was forced from the action clutching his shoulder 14 minutes into the second half.
With Jerry Flannery already back in Ireland, his potential absence leaves Declan Kidney with real problems leaving Sean Cronin and Damien Varley the only hookers at his disposal.
Paul O’Connell, who had been struggling with a groin strain, also left the field early but that was seen to be purely a precautionary measure. Gordon D’Arcy required treatment after being taken out by Sergio Parisse but was fit enough to continue.
Brian O’Driscoll, meanwhile, was pleased that Ireland once again displayed their big-game temperament to storm into the knockout stage.
“We’re very pleased with the way we’ve come through the pool in first place,” said O’Driscoll. “We didn’t bring results into this World Cup but we never panicked.
“We came here with big belief in our ability and what we’re capable of and we’ve managed to deliver a couple of times. We’ve got ourselves in a place where we’re playing Wales for a place in the semi-finals and that’s all we could have hoped for at this stage.
“We knew it would take a good while to grind Italy down and we were clinical in the chances we took. There was a distinct pressure on us to perform because it was win or go home. When it’s that cut and dry your backs are against the wall.
“There was definitely an added element of pressure, but we responded well to it.”
Wellington will host the mouthwatering contest between Ireland and Wales and O’Driscoll expects the all-Six Nations showdown to be tight.
“The games have been incredibly close over last eight years, certainly in my career,” he said. “They’ve beaten us in Dublin, we’ve beaten them in Cardiff. It will be an incredibly close game.
“It will just be about which team plays a bit better on the day. There’s not much between the sides.”
