IT WASN’T MEANT TO END LIKE THIS
Joe Schmidt’s Ireland left the World Cup in familiar fashion
IT WASN’T supposed to end like that, 23 points behind on the scoreboard at full-time in the quarter-final, the dream of reaching a first World Cup semi-final left on the shelf for another four years at the very least. But that was how the dice landed under the closed roof of Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium on October 18, Ireland’s nemesis Argentina inflicting the mortal blow for the third time in five tournaments.
There could be no complaints. The script for England 2015 was about hanging tough and making it through to the following weekend’s semifinals. However, the fates decreed otherwise, Ireland fell victim to a sparkling South American ambush following a bruising clash with France a week earlier.
That was a giddy day when the Fields came alive in Cardiff, the cauldron-like atmosphere generated in the stands transferring itself onto the pitch and helping to inspire the green-clad warriors to overcome the obstacles created by the untimely injuries suffered by Johnny Sexton, Paul O’Connell and Peter O’Mahony.
The stage had been set for this unified demonstration of all-out resistance the previous Wednesday. Sonia O’Sullivan, AP McCoy, Henry Shefflin and Barry McGuigan, other Irish sporting legends, congregated at Celtic Manor to show the players how they too could become heroes.
They did, Ian Madigan’s tears of joy encapsulating the full-time emotion. The warm glow lasted just seven days, however.
As was the case in New Zealand in 2011 with a pool win over Australia preceding the defeat to Wales, this tournament was always going to be judged by Ireland’s quarter-final result. Regrettably the outcome was the same, only this time it was the destruction of France that became a footnote.
Plus ça change. Joe Schmidt brought a squad to the finals that had won back-to-back Six Nations titles, a squad that was openly spoken about as potential world champions. That pedigree counted for little, though, in the crucial opening 10 minutes of tournament-defining clash with Argentina.
Ireland’s passive defence was breached with ease twice down Dave Kearney’s flank, a trauma repeated in the closing 10 minutes when the exact same thing happened to leave Pumas fans delirious and Irish supporters traipsing away deflated, squinting with sore eyes as they emerged into the afternoon daylight and the sobering reality that their party was over.
The adventure had started all so positively 29 days earlier at the same ground. Ireland made light of Robbie Henshaw’s absence to give Canada the run-around the aftermath of which offered the bizarre vista of the travelling support jumping for joy around the adjacent Arms Park fanzone.
The reason? Japan’s wonderful, last-gasp try against South Africa which produced a shock opening weekend result and laid the foundation for the best tournament in the 28-year history of the World Cup.
Ireland may have partially taken themselves out of the furnace, spending the preparation weeks that followed plotting and planning off the beaten track in Burton, Guildford and Newport, but the atmosphere surrounding their three Sunday pool games was electric.
A record World Cup attendance at Wembley for the win over Romania was followed by the low-frills, crossLondon victory over Italy that clinched quarter-final qualification at the Olympic before the long spin back across the Welsh border for that day of days against the French.
It all unravelled from there, though. O’Mahony took his wounded knee home.
The confirmation that Paul O’Connell’s Test career was over came on the same Tuesday that Sean O’Brien was banned for the quarterfinal. And then came the final setback, Sexton’s adductor seizing up on Friday evening, leaving him sidelined and Ireland lacking too many leaders when it most mattered.
Argentina celebrated. Ireland trudged away distraught.
Just like in Lens. Just like in Paris. History repeated. It just wasn’t supposed to end like that…