Paul O’Connell may not get into Ireland’s dressing room on Sunday, even if he wants to

There's getting emotional and there's getting too emotional.

There is a famous story about Munster's players sitting around in an effective Circle of Truth, the night before the 2000 Heineken Cup Final, and explaining just how much it meant to them to wear the famous, red jersey. Just about every man broke down in tears at one stage as they contemplated achieving the finest feat since the All Blacks were sent packing. Munster lost 9-8 to Northampton Saints the following afternoon. To this day, many put it down to the emotionally draining experience from the night before. It is perhaps with such knowledge in mind that Ireland coach Joe Schmidt will keep Paul O'Connell from the Irish dressing room ahead of their World Cup quarter-final with Argentina. O'Connell, it was revealed last week, had most of his Irish teammates in tears, with an inspirational speech, before they blasted past France. Imagine the waterworks if the injured Irish captain, fresh from Friday surgery, hobbled into the dressing room on Sunday? Asked, today, if O'Connell would be in the Irish dressing room, Schmidt shook his head and said it was "unlikely". He reasoned:

"Once someone is outside the group; as influential and talismanic as Paul is; he will be around, but he has not been actively been involved in preparing the team. "He has been in and around [the camp]. That, alone, gives players confidence." 

Schmidt added, "His surgery [to repair his damaged hamstring] went really well. He seems to be in very good humour, based on what he is putting up online. "That's a good sign for us." So, for now, it is more amusing pictures of disposable hospital underwear but not 'Fear of God' speeches. Schmidt may save that for a semi-final, if Ireland can somehow edge out Argentina this weekend.