VIDEO: Ireland flanker Sean O’Brien punches France’s Pascal Pape in Rugby World Cup clash

It was an incredibly intense and physical encounter between Ireland and France in Cardiff, but Sean O'Brien clearly overstepped the line.

Early on in the clash, Pascal Pape when down with an abdominal injury - but cameras caught O'Brien actually punch the French lock.

Ireland will almost certainly be without Jonathan Sexton and Paul O'Connell for the quarter finals after the pair limped off with injuries and now flanker O'Brien will surely be watching from the sidelines too.

See the video below.