Irish worried O'Driscoll might miss Cup

JOHN SELKIRK/Fairfax Media

UNDER A CLOUD: Irish skipper Brian O'Driscoll has been rushed to hospital for X-rays after being punched in the World Cup warmup game in Bayonne.

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Ireland's inspirational skipper Brian O'Driscoll is said to be in doubt for the World Cup after he suffered a suspected broken jaw in a spiteful warmup match in Bayonne.

The clash against Bayonne in France appears to have backfired on Ireland, with O'Driscoll suffering the injury after being punched in a match that threatened to get out of control. There are now real worries that his place in the tournament could be under a cloud.

The match was won 42-6 by the Irish, but there must now be question marks over whether O'Driscoll, the side's talismanic leader, will be fit to take his place for the start of the Cup.

Ireland are in the "Group of Death" alongside hosts France and Argentina, with every match in the pool likely to be important as these three battle for the two qualifying spots.

"I'm genuinely worried. He's gone for an X-ray," coach Eddie O'Sullivan told the BBC, amid concerns that O'Driscoll might have suffered a fractured cheekbone.

The match was reportedly an ugly one, with five yellow cards handed out in an encounter that was way too physical for the liking of the Irishmen.

Wing Denis Hickie crossed for a hat-trick of tries for Ireland, while standout lock Paul O'Connell added a brace and Andrew Trimble grabbed the other.

The BBC reported a Bayonne club spokesman suggesting O'Driscoll had sustained a fractured cheekbone. This wasn't confirmed by the Irish team management who would not comment on the extent of O'Driscoll's injury until results of his hospital tests were released.

"If the doc's worried (about O'Driscoll), then I'm worried," added O'Sullivan. "Hopefully, Brian is OK and if he isn't, it would be a big pity.

"But it was a punch thrown, so you can't legislate for that. Anyone can throw a punch any time. It could be serious if it is fractured, it would be a pity."

English referee Wayne Barnes struggled to retain control of the match, with Cedric Bergez and Ireland's Neil Best yellow-carded in the first half, and Bayonne fullback Daniel Larrachea and South African lock Robe Linde binned in the second spell, as well as Ireland's Gordon D'Arcy.

O'Sullivan was clearly unhappy with Bayonne's tactics, strongly suggesting they had taken things too far.

"I don't mind physicality, but it was more than physical," he told media. "There were some cheap shots, that's the pity. But that's the way they want to play it. We can't control that, we can only play our game."

A shoulder injury suffered by Ireland prop Denis Leamy was not thought to be serious.

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