Ireland suffered a double injury blow on Monday as it was announced by the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) that captain Paul O’Connell and halfback Conor Murray would miss the last two Six Nations matches through injury.

O’Connell has a left knee injury which he suffered during the second half of the 17-17 draw with World Cup finalists France on Sunday in Paris while his Munster clubmate Murray also has a knee injury that forced him off in the second half.

O’Connell – who was captaining the Irish in the tournament because of an injury to another talisman Brian O’Driscoll – is expected to be out for up to six weeks which will affect Munster’s hopes of a third European Cup win.

Munster host fellow Irish province Ulster in the quarter-finals over the weekend of April 6-8.

O’Connell, 32 and an 84-cap veteran, and Murray, who started all three of their Six Nations games this season, will miss Saturday’s home game against Scotland and the away trip to England the following weekend.