For Ireland and for their greatest-ever forward, this was no way for it all to end, carried off on a mobile stretcher and managing a wave to the crowd. No Brian O’Driscoll fairytale farewell for Paul O’Connell, then. And it was no way for Peter O’Mahony’s World Cup to end either. O’Connell’s heir as Munster captain had been Ireland’s warrior on the frontline in that first half.
“I felt awful for him,” admitted Rob Kearney of their stricken captain and leader. “But it was great to see the sheer delight after the game in terms of what we had achieved as opposed to [O’Connell] feeling sorry for himself. That was brilliant to see and a great sign of the man that he was able to put his own woes behind him and was able to think of the team first.
“He was beaming from ear to ear. When you consider that he was so happy and ecstatic after the game, and the pain he had been in at half-time. It’s little moments like that which make changing rooms after games so very special.”
Farewells
Similarly, the players said their farewells to O’Mahony over breakfast yesterday morning. “Everyone got to chat with him and console him a little bit. There is a massive togetherness in there and everyone was gutted to see him go.”
But it’s a cruel sport, and the show must go on. That’s the nature of the tournament beast.
“It’s not so much selfish, it’s a mentality, sort of a relentlessness that you just have to move on,” said Kearney. “Of course it’s gutting and it’s disappointing when you lose players. We went through it with Jared the other morning too, but it’s part and parcel of the game and you have to accept it there and then and move on as quickly as you can because dwelling on it is not going to do anything but affect the whole atmosphere and performance.”
Reflecting for a moment, though, on Sunday's level of Irish support, Kearney admitted: "I've had some special occasions throughout my career. The '09 Grand Slam in the Millennium was enormous, but I've never had anything close to that yesterday. Ireland's Call before the game, Olé Olé on 77 minutes – it was Italia '90 stuff, maybe even better. Without doubt, one of the best occasions ever."
This had a tangible effect too. “It was a massive lift. That was a home game for us yesterday; it was even a little bit more, because you never get that sort of noise in the Aviva. It was incredible and players were unbelievably appreciative because we understand. We’re not completely out of the loop. We know how difficult it is for people to get to Cardiff with flights in and out and the cost of tickets and hotel rooms and all of those things that go with just one day for people.”
And the younger, less experienced players rose to the occasion as well, for in the second half Iain Henderson and Ian Madigan contributed such positive energy that they actually made light of losing O’Connell and Johnny Sexton, which is saying something.
Of Madigan’s performance, Kearney revealed: “I said to him after the game that yesterday was the day for him in terms of just growing into a big-game player. We needed him, his country needed him and coming on at 25 minutes I think he delivered. It was a very, very strong performance from him.”
Landmark day
Perhaps Kearney’s words were still ringing in Madigan’s ears, but in any case no one knew the importance of what had been achieved, and what a landmark day this was in Madigan’s career, better than the player himself. That manifested itself in the tearful emotion he showed when acknowledging his parents in the stands after the team returned to salute the crowd.
“The boys are calling him Gazza!” revealed Kearney.
Next up the Pumas, who have won two of the countries’ three previous meetings in World Cups.
“They’re playing really good rugby. They’ve a side who have benefited a huge amount from playing in the Southern Hemisphere tournament. And every year on year they look a better side. What they did to South Africa in Durban during the summer is a sign of how far they’ve come and how dangerous they can be.”
They are also more dangerous than France, because, as Kearney agreed, they can play like France used to do.
“Yeah, I think they’re probably a little bit like the France team of the ’70s and ’80s, without disrespecting France at all now. I think the Argentinians have that carefree rugby and are willing to play and go for it.”
Acknowledging that “we played poorly against Italy”, Kearney maintained there remained areas for improvement from Sunday’s performance, highlighting their work in the air, discipline at the breakdown and not turning multiple phases into more.
“Definitely there were a lot of satisfying things to take from it but there were quite a few facets of the game that we still need to improve on, and heavily.”
The machine rolls on.
