Cian Healy: ‘It felt like we couldn’t get our hands on ball’

Few are prepared to talk. A media scrum is not the proper environment for a dissertation on disappointment. It’s primarily an exercise in trying to escape the corral of dictaphones without deviating from the generic.

It ensures that the specifics of defeat are left another day. There’s nothing cathartic in addressing the pain. The Ireland players just want to go anywhere as long as it doesn’t involve discussing the distress of this defeat.

Losing is part of sport but the nature of Ireland’s loss will rankle and fester. Joe Schmidt’s side didn’t turn up for the first 20 minutes. They were obliterated at the breakdown and narrow in defence.

Time and again the Pumas made quick metres around the fringes and then shifted their focus to the wider channels when they often caught Irish frontrow stragglers defending expansive swathes of turf. It all seemed too easy.

It seems ludicrous to focus on a lack of intensity. After all, it's a World Cup quarter-final. However, in those opening 20 minutes Ireland saddled themselves with a ridiculous handicap, coughing up a three-score lead.

Aggression

Ireland secondrow Devin Toner couldn't shed much light in revealing the lack of aggression and cohesion. "Against a team that good we can't afford to do that. To allow them to go 17 points up is, well, it's just not good enough.

“We said it during the week that they were one of the most dangerous sides out there, such fast backs, that we couldn’t afford to not turn up in the first 20 minutes.”

What was said when the team stood behind the posts on those three occasions?

Surely the insipid nature of the performance was addressed and a method for recalibration considered. Toner explained: “Not much was said about adjusting. We were just saying stick to the gameplan, what we know best, what has worked for us for the last few weeks and just dig in.”

There were a few specifics broached. “We were very narrow around the ruck and that meant they were getting it out wide; that was one of the main things we were talking about.”

Of that early period, Cian Healy said: "It was fast and frustrating, there were things happening that we couldn't control and then just the pace of the game, it didn't feel like we could get our hands on the ball."

Ireland did come back though to within three points, but with the game in the balance they just released the valve on the pressure levels they had cranked up. The Pumas appreciated the respite and got a second wind to accelerate away.

Toner mused: “We did well to get back into it, three points behind at one stage but they kicked on again. Frustrated, disappointed, not much more I can say.

“It’s harder when you know that you can play better. We were on the back foot in defence a little bit but credit to Argentina, they were on the front foot, getting over the gainline.”

Ireland has the outstanding lineout in the World Cup, ostensibly a footnote in their demise, but it’s given them a perfect platform to attack other teams. They have also stolen more balls (10) on the opposition throw in the tournament; again perfect turnover ball from which to attack.

But it was the 71st minute when Ireland tried to get outside the Argentinian defence in orthodox fashion coming on foot of the first try when Luke Fitzgerald managed to scamper clear on the outside and finish brilliantly. It wasn't only in defence that Ireland were once again narrow.

Support

Toner gave a voice to the players’ feelings.

“It was the first knockout game that I’ve been involved in at a World Cup and the first World Cup I’ve been involved in and, yeah, I’m just hugely disappointed. The first thing I want to do is thank everyone for all the support over the past couple of weeks.”

That hollow feeling will be difficult to leave behind.