Ireland centre Gordon D'Arcy's departure for the World Cup has been delayed by 48 hours following a calf injury he sustained during a recovery session that took place just hours before Ireland were due to board the plane for New Zealand.

An Irish Rugby Football Union statement said: "The injury was scanned and to minimise the possibility of any swelling on the flight, it has been decided that it is more prudent to allow the strain time to recover before he joins up with the Ireland squad in Queenstown."

However, Ireland team manager Paul McNaughton insisted the injury will not sideline D'Arcy from any of Ireland's World Cup matches, starting with a Pool C opener against the United States in New Plymouth on September 11.

"Gordon is not ruled out of anything yet - it is a slight calf strain and we will re-examine it before he flies out."

McNaughton added: "Jamie Heaslip had a concussion but he is fine and ready to fly out. There is nothing else of concern to us at the moment."

Ireland are due to arrive at their Queenstown training base on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Ireland flank David Wallace is set to be sidelined for at least six months following the knee injury that ended his hopes of appearing in the World Cup.

The 35-year-old loose forward suffered major ligament damage after a perfectly legal tackle by Manu Tuilagi in England's 20-9 warm-up win over Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.

Wallace, who was replaced in Ireland's World Cup squad by Shane Jennings, underwent surgery on Saturday.

A statement issued by Munster, Wallace's province, said he is "expected to be sidelined for at least six months".

That could mean Wallace is ruled out of the whole pool phase of this season's European Cup, as well as much of the Pro12.

AFP