VIDEO: Pummelling from Pumas as Ireland run out of heroes

Argentina 43 Ireland 20: So the wait goes on. Ireland’s quest for a first World Cup semi-final appearance had never been in better hands and yet here we all are again, staring into the abyss for another four years after another deeply disappointing demise at the last-eight stage.

As much as Ireland’s backs were against the wall at the Millennium Stadium yesterday, their numbers depleted by injury and suspension, there was little to console Joe Schmidt and his players after this comprehensive defeat by a slicker, quicker, tougher and more powerful team.

It may have been a valiant effort as Ireland tried to summon one more big performance in the absence of captain Paul O’Connell, playmaker Johnny Sexton and back-row tag team Peter O’Mahony and Sean O’Brien. But this was simply a game too far without them when the quality of the opposition was a ferocious Argentine side that fought for every ball and gave their all in each collision, their skillset and attacking verve vastly improved by their experience alongside the SANZAR nations in the Rugby Championship. Ireland were undone not once but twice and both phases of play were, in Schmidt’s opinion, “really disappointing”.