World Cup fear for Ireland's O'Driscoll

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The off-the-ball incident involving Mike Tewajta left Ireland's 28-year-old captain with a suspected fractured cheekbone which, if confirmed, would deprive next month's tournament of one of its stellar players. He went immediately to hospital for X-rays.

Coach Eddie O'Sullivan said: "There's a nasty cut on his cheek but my concern is that it is a fractured cheekbone. I will know in the morning if there is anything. It could be serious if it is fractured."

For O'Driscoll, what was supposed to have been a routine final warm-up turned into a calamity of nightmarish potential.

Two years ago the Dubliner was invalided out of the Lions tour of New Zealand in the first minute of the first Test, the victim of an alleged spear tackle which dislocated his shoulder.

Since coming back, he has re-established himself as a centre without peer on the European stage. Under his leadership, Ireland have thrived as never before.

But the most pyrrhic of victories in Bayonne last night - Ireland won 42-6 - left them staring at the possibility of having to replace the irreplaceable with little more than three weeks before their opening tie against Namibia in Bordeaux.