O'Sullivan Reveals Concern As Ireland Wait on Best Update

Ireland hope to receive a diagnosis of Simon Best's condition when fresh test results are returned later today. Best, who has been ruled out of the remainder of the World Cup, was rushed to Bordeaux's Pellegrin hospital last night after developing a loss of sensation down his right side.

The prop also complained of a mild headache and a difficulty in speaking and underwent a series of tests, including an MRI scan, an angiogram and a CT. The tests were repeated this morning and Best was then transferred to the nearby Haut Leveque - one of France's leading cardiological hospitals - for further investigation.

As yet doctors have been unable to make a clear diagnosis on Best's condition and the Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan this afternoon refused to speculate on the nature of the condition. "We are concerned," admitted a clearly emotional O'Sullivan. "There is a certain amount of concern because there isn't a diagnosis at this stage and I suppose that's the worrying thing.

"I wouldn't speculate on what Simon's condition is and I don't think anyone should speculate about it at this point. It would be wrong for everybody, including his family. We don't have a diagnosis and hopefully it's nothing like [a stroke] - hopefully it might be something very, very small. In the meantime we have to keep our fingers crossed."

O'Sullivan was visibly shaken by the latest setback in Ireland's disappointing World Cup and revealed Best's wife and family were headed to Bordeaux to join the Ulster skipper. "Simon has been around for a long time and he's one of these quietly spoken guys that everybody loves," he said. "So it's a shock for everybody that something like this can happen.

"Simon was in downtown Bordeaux yesterday afternoon with his good friend Paddy Wallace, just strolling around the city centre, when he felt this coming on. He called our team doctor [Gary O'Driscoll], we got him back to our hotel immediately and then we moved him to the hospital straight away. He's been in hospital since.

"Simon's wife is en route here at the moment. His dad will be here tomorrow. He will be going home at some stage so, obviously, we want family travelling with him. We have an issue that we didn't expect to have with one of our friends, one of our family."

Munster's prop Tony Buckley has been called up to replace Best, who was named on the bench for Sunday's World Cup clash with Argentina in Paris. Buckley will depart for France as soon as possible with Best's Ulster team-mate Bryan Young filling the vacancy on the bench against the Pumas.

A decision on who will start at hooker in the Pool D finale will be made later today with Best's brother Rory (dislocated thumb) and Jerry Flannery (shoulder stinger) undergoing fitness tests. "Rory's a bit upset with the news but he knows that Simon is in the best possible hands and that everything has been done for him," added O'Sullivan. "At this stage it's just a case of waiting to find what the problem is. I spoke to Rory at lunch and he was ready to train this afternoon."