Mike Tewhata may be a name forever cursed amongst Irish rugby fans after his attempt to re-arrange Brian O'Driscoll's face left Ireland's World Cup challenge hanging on a knife edge after this violent Battle of Bayonne.

O'Driscoll was whisked away in an ambulance with a suspected fractured cheekbone following this warm-up game which saw six yellow cards and an avalanche of injuries construct a giant roadblock in front of Ireland's dreams.

Denis Leamy and Paddy Wallace joined O'Driscoll and Shane Horgan in the casualty ward as Ireland eased to a facile victory on what could turn out to be a calamitous night in south-west France.

The only result that matters is O'Driscoll's x-ray which should be known today.

Following an off the ball punch from Tewhata, named by his own team-mates as the assailant, O'Driscoll, with blood pouring from his right eye, spent the rest of the match being stitched up on the sideline.

"We're genuinely worried. He's got a nasty cut on his cheekbone and we're worried that there might be a fracture there," said Eddie O'Sullivan.

"Fingers crossed he's okay. If not, it would be a huge worry for us. It got messy with a lot of cheap shots but we didn't expect a garden party. He got punched but hopefully he's okay."

The risk of further injuries ahead of the World Cup was the last thing O'Sullivan needed.

Denis Leamy's shoulder injury is also a concern while Wallace and Peter Stringer suffered severe body blows as they departed early.

Bayonne bruiser Richard Dourte had gleefully exclaimed his vengeful motivations in yesterday morning's edition of L'Equipe.

Recalling his last international appearance against Ireland, a 15-12 defeat six years ago, Dourthe chillingly expressed the thought that "if Ireland have to play without Brian O'Driscoll, it is better for us."

Ominously, the teamsheet handed out before the game was amended minutes before kick-off in front of a near-capacity crowd in the Stade Jean Dauger - Dourthe had switched from inside to outside centre, directly in opposition to O'Driscoll.

Ireland's arrival on the field was inauspicious as O'Driscoll's men were dedecked in garish blue and white jerseys, which appeared as if they had experienced one spin cycle too many.

D'Arcy embarrassed Dourthe with a trademark sidestep and searing break from the half-way line, hopefully a portent of things to come from a man who could be one of the World Cup stars next month, especially if O'Driscoll's injury is worse than feared. O'Connell finished it off.

Three minutes later, an outrageous cross-field kick from O'Gara on his '22' found Denis Hickie, one of several Irishman standing in splendid isolation, and the retiring international sped home.

15-0 after 10 minutes and you reckoned this wasn't going to be much of a contest on the ball.

But it was off it. Neil Best was entangled in skirmishes hither and thither while O'Connell was throttled around the throat by the abrasive Linde.

The mercury continued to rise. Cedric Bergez was binned for some tasty pugilism 25 minutes in. Best also went to the cooler on the half-hour, although a deliberate knee drop may have coaxed his quest for retribution.

The French had assumed battle stations. So piqued was O'Driscoll, his continued haranguing of inexperienced referee Wayne Barnes, 27, forced the Englishman to reverse a penalty close to the line.

Andrew Trimble then fooled Dourthe and Daniel Larrechea on the touchline before scooting home; O'Driscoll's decoy run had been illegally stymied by a defender and his justifiable, if excessive, mouthing continued as the teams departed at half-time.

O'Driscoll's genius allowed Hickie to score on the resumption, although Hickie's second try should have been disallowed as he was twice out of touch.

After the Leinster sparkle, came the Munster shuffle, Marcus Horan's break and offload allowing O'Connell a resounding 40-yard sprint to the line. Ireland now led 32-6 and were coasting yet the story was only starting.

Larrechea earned his side's second yellow for grappling with Simon Easterby and then O'Driscoll was thwacked. Gordon D'Arcy, uncharacteristically, also saw the bin as tempers frayed. The final whistle couldn't come soon enough. Time to start praying.

BAYONNE - D Larrechea; X Garbajosa, R Dourthe, V Inigo, R Dourthe, B Lhande; H-P Vermis, J Tilloles; J-M Usandisaga, D Roumieu, A Iguiniz, R Linde, C Bergez, J Deen, L Massabeau, D Haare.

IRELAND - G Dempsey; A Trimble (P Wallace 70), B O'Driscoll (capt), G D'Arcy, D Hickie; R O'Gara, P Stringer (E Reddan 55); M Horan, R Best, J Hayes, D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell (M O'Kelly 70), S Easterby, N Best, D Leamy (A Quinlan 37). Replacements: F Sheahan, B Young, M O'Kelly, A Quinlan, P Wallace, G Murphy.

REF - W Barnes (England).

- David Kelly in Bayonne