Heartbreak as injury rules Wallace out of World Cup

Updated 18.40

DAVID WALLACE’S WORLD CUP dream lies in pieces this evening after the flanker was ruled out of next month’s tournament in New Zealand with a knee injury.

The Munster man was stretchered off to sympathetic applause after a robust challenge from English centre Manu Tuilagi left him in agony just 22 minutes into Ireland’s 20-9 defeat this afternoon.

Wallace was immediately rushed to hospital for a scan, and coach Declan Kidney later confirmed that the player would miss the World Cup.

Wallace’s replacement in Ireland’s 30-man squad is expected to be named tomorrow.

The Irish medical team will wait until tomorrow before conducting further assessments on forwards Cian Healy (eye), Jamie Heaslip (concussion), Jerry Flannery (shin) and Stephen Ferris (hand).

All four were substituted before full-time with slight knocks, but they are are not thought to be in danger of missing the tournament.

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