Captain Brian O'Driscoll will miss Ireland's RBS 6 Nations clash with England after suffering a hamstring tear in Saturday's 16-12 defeat by Wales.

O'Driscoll limped off in the 75th minute after sustaining the damage during a ruck and will undergo a scan on Sunday.

Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan said: "Brian has a hamstring tear that he picked up in a ruck. It's happened to him before."

He added: "He was in the approach position, his foot slipped and he was hit from behind. It will certainly take him out of the England game. We don't have a clue how long he'll be out for. He'll have a scan."

The loss of O'Driscoll capped a dismal afternoon for Ireland, who were comprehensively outplayed by a Welsh side that are on the brink of Six Nations glory.

O'Sullivan said: "We're disappointed to lose a Six Nations match. It was tight and went down to the wire.

"We started very well and got the dynamics right. We went 6-0 up and had Shane Horgan's try been given we would have been 13-0 up.

"I have no complaints with the decision. It was the TMO's call. For us it wasn't meant to be and Wales bounced back. At 6-3 at half-time they hadn't scored and it was all to play for.

"We rallied well and reeled them in to within a point, but their last penalty killed the game off. They were the better team on the day and we didn't get too many line-breaks against them."