Ireland's Sean O'Brien sidelined with fractured arm

Ireland's ongoing autumn international campaign have been dealt a blow with flanker Sean O'Brien sidelined with a fractured arm following their win over Argentina at Aviva Stadium last weekend.

The 31-year-old suffered the blow in the 38th minute of the game that Joe Schmidt's side went on to lose 28-17.

Ireland head coach Schmidt expressed disappointment on the news but is confident that the British and Irish Lions star will overcome the setback.

“He’s gutted, I’m gutted for him. I think the team are,” he told BBC Sport.

“Actually, I thought he was just getting into his rhythm in the game.

“He’s already thinking about his rehab and about trying to make sure he gets back. He’s got a big target in a year’s time [the World Cup] that he wants to get to.

“I think I described him as a stubborn man and I think that ability to bounce back, that resilience that he has, would still give him a chance of getting back in time for toward the end of the year and then into the Six Nations.”

Ireland will be facing New Zealand and the United States of America on 17th and 24th November respectively in their remainder of the autumn international campaign.