Hickie facing a six-month layoff
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Hickie was injured during the narrow loss to Australia
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MELBOURNE, Australia -- Ireland's all-time record try scorer Denis Hickie has been ruled out of the World Cup after suffering a serious Achilles injury during the 17-16 defeat by Australia.
South African flanker Joe van Niekerk is also out after damaging his right knee in the defeat of Samoa.
Ireland have sent for Ulster wing Tyrone Howe to replace Hickie before the quarterfinal against France in Melbourne next Sunday.
Flying winger Hickie, who has scored 23 tries for Ireland in 44 appearances, ruptured his right Achilles tendon shortly before half-time in Saturday's match against the Wallabies at Docklands.
"It's serious and requires immediate surgery," Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan told a press conference in Melbourne.
"He could be out for up to six months. It's worse than a broken leg."
Van Niekerk has ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and is also likely to be on the sidelines for half a year.
Van Niekerk, who scored the opening try after two minutes in the rout of Samoa, was replaced early in the second half by Danie Roussow.
