The agony etched on the face of Ireland’s iconic captain Paul O’Connell said it all. Clutching a hamstring during the 24 / 9 win against France on Sunday, the giant lock’s pain was physical and emotional. The group stages were where his Rugby World Cup 2015 would end.

As bruised and battered players take a deep breath, head for the ice baths and prepare to go again in the quarterfinals, some of their less-fortunate teammates will be forced to watch those matches from the stands, or on television.

The withdrawal of O’Connell on Tuesday, hard on the heels of fellow Ireland players Jared Payne and Peter O’Mahony, means that all 8 teams left in the competition will enter the knockout stages depleted, in some way, by injuries.

How the mighty have fallen:

No side has been affected more than Wales, who have had to release 6 players from Warren Gatland’s original group.

Fullback Leigh Halfpenny and scrumhalf Rhys Webb suffered serious injuries in a warm-up match against Italy, while Halfpenny’s replacement, Eli Walker, promptly tweaked a hamstring to allow flanker Ross Moriarty an unexpected call. The others to have gone are Cory Allen, Hallam Amos, Scott Williams and Liam Williams, which on Tuesday re-opened the door to fit-again Eli Walker.

Of the other quarter-finalists, South Africa may have only lost 1 player, but his absence will be keenly felt. Jean de Villiers called time on his Rugby World Cup and his career after his jaw was smashed against Argentina, despite coming back onto the pitch when teammate Jesse Kriel was forced off.

Australia must do without lock Will Skelton and No 8 Wycliff Palu, while Scotland have released Grant Gilchrist and Stuart McInally.

Physical duels:

Vern Cotter’s side came through a 36 / 33 win against Samoa on Saturday unscathed, but team doctor James Robson summed it up: “There probably isn’t a single member of the squad that isn’t feeling something today. They’re pretty sore and many of the players have reported that from a physicality aspect it was even more physical that the South African game.”

France’s Yoann Huget was an early casualty, replaced by fellow wing Remy Grosso, Argentina had a pre-tournament change when prop Matias Diaz was injured, while New Zealand have had to wave goodbye to a tried-and-tested warrior in Tony Woodcock.

The 34-year-old prop was in tears as he limped out of his 118th match for the All Blacks in their 47 / 9 win over Tonga. Like De Villiers, New Zealand’s try-scoring hero of the Rugby World Cup 2011 final against France retires now. From ecstasy to agony in 4 years.

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