The 35-year-old, who was due to retire from international
rugby after the World Cup, will undergo surgery this week and his time out of
the game - he signed a two-year contract with Toulon in June after 14 years
with Munster - will depend on the outcome of the operation.
Leinster forward Mike McCarthy has been called up as a
replacement for O'Connell and he will join up with the Ireland squad on Tuesday
ahead of Sunday's quarter-final against Argentina at the Millennium Stadium.
No 8 Jamie Heaslip will take over the captaincy from
O'Connell, who has made 108 appearances in 13 years for Ireland.
Sunday's game against France has taken its toll on the
Ireland squad with Peter O'Mahony already back in Cork after he suffered
serious knee ligament damage, while his fellow back-row forward Sean O'Brien
has been banned for one week for an off-the-ball clash with Pascal Pape after
appearing before a disciplinary panel on Tuesday.
A number of the Ireland players have paid tribute to
O'Connell after his international career came to a premature end.
"It's been amazing to play with him," said prop
Jack McGrath. "He was a true warrior. He never left anything out there on
the pitch."
Young centre Robbie Henshaw said: "He was always there
to give me advice when I came into the squad.
"I loved and admired the fact he wasn't too intense. He
was a truly inspirational leader. Every time he spoke he would say the right
thing. It can drive us on but it is an emotional day for everyone."
Flanker Chris Henry said: "The team talk does write
itself ultimately this week.
"If you look at past games whenever Ireland have
faltered, it's usually Paulie that generates something, smashes someone or gets
the ball and does something different. He just keeps going when there's a brick
wall in front of him. If we can use that as inspiration, then we will."
Full-back Rob Kearney said: "It is difficult and I felt
awful for him. But it was great to see the sheer delight after the game
[against France] in terms of what we had achieved, as opposed to feeling sorry
for himself.
"He was just delighted and beaming from ear to ear.
When you consider that he was so happy and ecstatic after the game and the pain
he had been in at half-time, it's those little moments that make changing rooms
after games so very special.
"That was brilliant to see and a great sign of the man
that he was able to put his own woes behind him and was able to think of the
team first."
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