Sean O’Brien has been cited for 'striking' France lock Pascal Pape and he faces a hearing today in London

Jonathan Sexton of Ireland receives treatment during the 2015 Rugby World Cup Pool D match between France and Ireland at Millennium Stadium on October 11, 2015 in Cardiff, United Kingdom. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Ireland lost another member of their World Cup squad yesterday as Peter O'Mahony flew to Dublin for scans on his injured knee, but Joe Schmidt was boosted by a positive update on the health of Johnny Sexton.

The out-half limped out of Sunday's win over France with a groin injury, but it is understood that scans on the muscle have come out clear and he is now in a race to be fit in time to face Argentina in the quarter-final this weekend.

The news elsewhere was not so positive, however, with Paul O'Connell all but confirmed as being out of the tournament after suffering a "significant hamstring injury" that may have involved the muscle detaching from the bone and O'Mahony ruled out with a knee ligament injury.

That was compounded by news that Sean O'Brien has been cited for "striking" France lock Pascal Pape and he faces a hearing today at 1.0 in London.

Argentina also have disciplinary concerns over one of their stars ahead of Sunday's showdown after centre Marcelo Bosch was cited for an alleged dangerous tackle during his side's comfortable win over Namibia.

Joe Schmidt has called Rhys Ruddock into his squad as a replacement for O'Mahony, but has yet to select a back to come in for Jared Payne who was ruled out of the World Cup with a foot injury on Saturday.

​Much will depend on how the rest of the backline has recovered from Sunday's bruising encounter, with Andrew Trimble, Fergus McFadden and Noel Reid in contention, while Dan Tuohy could replace O'Connell.

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Irish Independent