Despite no matches taking place on Monday, there was an abundance of off-field news surrounding the 2015 Rugby World Cup. 

Much of the stories were coming from the Irish camp, who are still counting the cost of Sunday's victory over France in Cardiff. 

Peter O'Mahony has been ruled out for the remainder of the tournament after injuring knee ligaments, whilst Sean O'Brien has been cited for his altercation with Pascal Pape in the early stages of Sunday's win. 

Ireland are not the only side to have had a player cited after qualifying for the knockout stages, with Scotland and Argentina also hoping for the best after they each had players called towards the citing commisioners. 

Ruddock replaces injured O'Mahony, whilst country await O'Connell and Sexton news

From all the positivity Ireland earned from their win over the French, that may soon turn to despair with a number of their stars looking highly doubtful to be ready for their quarter-final against Argentina. 

Peter O'Mahony will definitely not play on Sunday, after he was ruled out for the remainder of the World Cup with knee ligament damage. 

The Munster flanker's place in the squad has gone to Rhys Ruddock, who plays a similar role to O'Mahony and gets the call-up after overcoming a broken arm he picked up in June. 

In other injury news concerning Joe Schmidt's side, Paul O'Connell is a major doubt to be fit for the rest of the tournament after suffering a leg injury just before half-time against the French. The Irish captain is still awaiting test results, as is fly-half Jonny Sexton who suffered a groin injury, although reports from the Irish camp claim the initial assessment was 'encouraging'. 

O'Brien cited after striking opponent

Unsurprisingly to many, Sean O'Brien has been cited for striking Pascal Pape in the opening moments of Sunday's victory. 

The incident - which should have been seen by the Television Match Official - has been doing the rounds on social media, and the call came on Monday evening that O'Brien would have to go before a panel to hear his charge. 

After putting in a Man of the Match performance, the French may feel aggrieved that O'Brien was allowed to continue the match after the act of violence so early in the match. 

Bosch, Gray and Ford join list of citings, whilst Pocock escapes after apparent knee

Ireland's quarter-final opponents Argentina have worries of their own, after centre Marcelo Bosch was cited on Monday for a dangerous tackle.

Less than a minute after entering the field in Sunday's win over Namibia, Bosch was yellow-carded after tip-tackling his opponent in a late and dangerous tackle, making a ban look likely.

A pair of Scottish players will also have their cases heard after being cited for dangerous tackles in the frantic win over Samoa on Saturday which booked their quarter-final spot. 

Hooker Ross Ford and lock Jonny Gray were charged after tipping an opponent in the ruck on Saturday, with their status for Saturday's quarter-final resting on this Christopher Quinlan QC's ruling. 

Scotland's quarter-final opponents Australia seem to have got off lightly, after David Pocock avoided being cited, despite footage seeming to show him knee Wales hooker Scott Baldwin in the back after their win at Twickenham on Saturday. 

A three-week ban is the minimum charge for reckless use of the knee, which would have ruled Pocock out for the remainder of the World Cup, yet he has escaped being cited as Australia gear up for their quarter-final against the Scots. 

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