Jamie Heaslip could miss the rest of the Six Nations after suffering a suspected broken vertebrae in his lower back after France lock Pascal Pape drove a knee into him during the second half of Saturday's Six Nations clash at the Aviva Stadium.
The French player was yellow carded by English referee Wayne Barnes after the incident in the 52nd minute, while the Ireland No 8 struggled on until the hour mark before being replaced by Jordi Murphy.
Coach Joe Schmidt reported Heaslip to be 'very uncomfortable' after the final whistle of the 18-11 Ireland win and the Leinster player was not at the team dinner on Saturday night.
Although known as a good healer – he was back in the side after a shoulder injury against France – Heaslip could miss the closing three games of the Six Nations, while Leinster’s European Champions Cup quarter-final at home to Bath at Easter may also be in doubt.
Pape will likely face further sanction with a citing expected to be made in the coming days.
Heaslip wasn't the only Ireland player in the wars with Johnny Sexton finishing the match bloodied but unbowed after a bruising encounter.
The Irish outhalf may have left the pitch in the second half with blood dripping from his eye but Sexton was out and about after the match, while Heaslip was confined to sick bay with a sore back.
Sexton is now expected to head back to France for a league match with his club Racing Metro at the weekend
“We knew Johnny was okay when he collided with (Mathieu) Bastareaud. He had to be sutured. He’s a few stitches and a shiner. If that shiner blows up a bit its difficult to judge distance,” said Schmidt.
“The doctors did a HIA (Head Injury Assessment) on him. They knew he was lucid. He’s fine, just frustrated. He missed one kick to touch but kicked incredibly well from his hand, one fantastic kick down to the right-hand corner.”
“The concern I have with Johnny is that he’s not going to give any quarter. He got Bastareaud’s elbow a couple of times. He’s a great competitor and that spreads across the team. It showed today in our defending even though we were under a lot of pressure. And Johnny is part of that.”
Sexton’s match for his Parisian club, however, is something the outhalf is looking forward to. Although he has eight stitches in his eye and it is swollen and partially closed, he feels that he needs to have more game time in his legs.
“I think Johnny is really happy to play,” added Schmidt. “He wants to get back in the saddle, get some more play before we meet England. The game against England is the next one and that’s what we are planning on. Wales and Scotland going head to head, one of those teams will come back into the competition with a win and that’s what makes this competition so tight.”
Schmidt was pleased at having more of his core players back after Cian Healy came on and Seán O'Brien came though most of the match without incident, but he felt Ireland's accuracy was sometimes wanting.
“Seán trained really well all week and Cian did extras out on the pitch after the game,” said Schmidt. “It’s great to get those guys back because it means there is more internal pressure, which makes it more competitive in the squad and we can do with that
“I think England are a well balanced team, well organised and well coached. I hope we can get a bit of that killer instinct. We are going to have to be better again and if we can be a fraction more accurate maybe we can get a couple more scores.”
