End of an era for a true giant of Irish rugby

Paul O'Connell's Irish career was not supposed to end this way: helped off a Cardiff field after sustaining a hamstring injury. If the rugby gods had been smiling on Ireland, this warrior of the game would have concluded his international innings by lifting the Webb Ellis trophy. But despite the strong place Irish rugby was perceived to be at the start of the year, Joe Schmidt's men could not get further than the quarter-finals of the World Cup - humbled by a dynamic, thrilling Argentina.