Ireland's Sean O'Brien punches Pascal Pape in first minute of Rugby World Cup 2015 win over France

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Ireland will face Argentina in World Cup quarter-finals after win over France
Jonathan Sexton and Paul O'Connell were both injured in the first-half
Influential Peter O'Mahony was another casualty from the match
Man of the match Sean O'Brien is shown punching Pascal Pape
France 9-24 Ireland, RWC 2015: CLICK HERE for the match report

Published: 13:46 EST, 11 October 2015 | Updated: 20:10 EST, 11 October 2015

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Ireland's Rugby World Cup win over France could come at a cost, after Sean O'Brien joined Jonathan Sexton and Paul O'Connell on the list of possible quarter-final absentees.

Captain O'Connell and fly-half Sexton have no control over their absences, both removed with injuries, as was another influential player in Peter O'Mahony.

But O'Brien, the man of the match in a magnificent win over France which earned a quarter-final against Argentina, may have a nervous wait ahead of him.

Ireland's Sean O'Brien appears to punch French No 8 Pascal Pape in the chest early in the first half

Footage shows flanker O'Brien swinging his right arm and collecting the Stade Francais star in the chest

Pape appears in pain as a medic places an icepack on his chest following the incident in the first minute

Footage from the match shows O'Brien swinging his right arm and connecting with the lock's chest in the opening minute of the match in an incident that could catch the attention of citing officials.

Pape is known to the Irish as the man who was banned for 10 weeks for kneeing Jamie Heaslip in the back and fracturing his vertebrae during their Six Nations clash earlier this year.

This match, won 24-9 by Ireland, was the first time the No 8 had faced Ireland since.

Ireland are likely to be without Sexton, who suffered a groin injury which seemed to occur while kicking, for their clash with the Pumas on Sunday. He was also nursing sore ribs from a hefty hit from Louis Picamoles that came soon after as he tried to play on.

Ireland's fly-half Jonathan Sexton shows his emotion as he limps off the pitch with an apparent groin injury

A look of worry is on the face of a Irish medic as Sexton lies flat on his back and awaits the prognosis

Another disaster for Ireland as captain Paul O'Connell writhes in pain on the ground on the stroke of half-time

Also absent for the first knockout game of the tournament is probably O'Connell, who looked in pain as he left the field on a motorised stretcher with a hamstring problem.

O'Connell's Test career looks over after 108 caps, the Toulon-bound lock punching the turf in agony before being taken off.

Combative flanker O'Mahony departed via a stretcher with a suspected knee problem amid the second-half maelstrom, as the toll of a searing contest grew and grew.