Lynne Cantwell has been ruled out of Sunday's third and fourth place –play-off having sustained concussion tackling England's Emily Scarratt in the 40-7 World Cup semi-final defeat.

"Yeah, it is a bad one," confirmed Ireland coach Philip Doyle. "She won't be playing Sunday for us."

With Doyle stepping away after the tournament and several senior players retiring, this may have been Cantwell’s last ever game for her country.

“I genuinely don’t know but I suspect that it could be her last (game for Ireland),” said Doyle. “And that’s a real blow for us.”