Ireland deservedly departed from the Rugby World Cup last night after being beaten 28-24 points by a more enterprising, imaginative and individually talented Argentine side.
The Argentinians went ahead for the first time shortly before the end of normal time, but nearly another 10 minutes of added time were then played, with coronaries in the crowds probably handsomely exceeding the aggregate score of 52.
The Irish coach Warren Gat land said afterwards that he was extremely disappointed at the result, but he was looking forward to the new six-nations championship, which is the equivalent of a failed Olympian sprinter pronouncing enthusiastically on the forthcoming parish egg-and-spoon race.
Ireland's tactics, depending on the kicking of the gentleman known to the PA as Davveeed Humfreeeze, for a long while looked as if they might work.
Though it was dire to watch - and is unlikely to win any fans here in Lens which is to rugby what Crossmaglen is to hockey - it was effective.
Three points ahead after 3 minutes, 6 points after 7 minutes, the policy seemed to be to force the Argentinians to give away penalties which the Ulsterman would put away, neat as a seamstress threading a needle.
It was a half, however, of two out-halves and the scintillating boot of Gonzalo Quesada, which kept the Argentinians in the race for the first 40 minutes.
But it was a tiresome game, in furiating locals and neutrals alike, and Ireland was steadily booed from the terraces. More of the same grisly fare followed in the second half. What little sparkle existed on the pitch was wearing the pale blue stripes of the Pumas.
In this second half, Daveeed Humfreeeze gradually pushed the score to 21-9, but playing the kind of game which will empty rugby stadiums at a hundred miles.
Here in soccer-mad Lens, the Irish rugby method was rather less welcome than the RUC hockey team would be trotting onto Crossmaglen Rangers GAA pitch.
Quesada's boot remorselessly brought the score back to 24-18, but Argentina were showing refreshingly Gallic qualities of elan and verve, now throwing the ball around with an abandon which was both reckless and yet sensible. It was the only way they would get back into the game - and they did.
A magnificent move down their right wing gave Albanese a wonderful try in the corner, which Quesada converted with a sniper's accuracy.
He then scored a penalty, obliging Ireland for the first time to seek tries.
This seemed beyond their limited means, even if it was given the rest of the century to play in added time.
So for the Argentinian team, a deserved place in the quarterfinals of the World Cup, which Ireland fail to reach in the first time in the history of the championship's 12 years.
There are many questions to ask of this Ireland team. For example, is there a southern hemisphere team this team could live with?
Certainly! A Pensioners XV from the Pitcairn Islands, maybe. A disabled penguins' team from Tierra del Fuego, possibly. Not much else.
Roll on the eggs and spoons of the Six Nations - with the wooden spoon to look forward to.