Ireland must dust it off and keep moving forward. What else can they do?

Dan Sheehan will be among the next drivers. He was the fourth youngest member of this squad, already has 20 caps and a tag as ‘world-class’ hooker to his name.

WHAT OF THE FUTURE? Ireland's Tadhg Furlong, Garry Ringrose and Jonathan Sexton, Luca Sexton, along with Dan Sheehan and James Lowe. Pic: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

The ending is the ending. It makes few allowances for context or feelings.

Andrew Porter watched the dying moments of Ireland’s latest World Cup campaign from behind a Société Générale advertising hoarding on the halfway line.