Early exit

'Depressing level of inadequacy'

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Posted: Thursday October 21, 1999 06:30 PM

Justin Bishop (right) looks dejected as Argentinean players celebrate their win. AP

DUBLIN, Ireland (AP) -- One headline above all others summed up Ireland's reaction to its humiliating exit from the Rugby World Cup.

"Depressing level of inadequacy," said Thursday's The Irish Times newspaper in a reflection of the dark mood brought on by Ireland's insipid 28-24 loss to Argentina in Wednesday's playoff in Lens.

Instead of heading for a home quarterfinal against a surprisingly weak France, the Irish were forced to hurry back and clean out their rooms at Dublin's Finnstown Hotel in preparation for Thursday's arrival of the South American side.

Irish fans have long lived with disappointment, having lost three World Cup quarterfinals, including one by a point against Australia in Dublin in 1991.

But this one cut deep.

"It was excruciating to watch the national side shuffle towards oblivion," wrote John O'Sullivan in The Irish Times newspaper. "For many supporters the overwhelming feeling last night was one of anger, a feeling of betrayal."

Former international flyhalf Tony Ward, writing in the Irish Independent, praised Argentina as being more creative and tactically savvy than its experienced rival.

"This defeat is a huge blow for Irish rugby," said Ward. "Let no-one argue otherwise."

Ireland's team was berated for failing to get across the Argentinean line and for resorting to a 13-man lineout, instead of something more inventive, as referee Stuart Dickinson played nine minutes of injury time.

Coach Warren Gatland, a New Zealander whose gruff manner has done little to enamor him with the Irish media, was also ridiculed for suggesting the team could now go away and concentrate on the upcoming Six Nations tournament.

"[That] is the equivalent of a failed Olympic sprinter pronouncing enthusiastically on the forthcoming parish egg-and-spoon race," wrote Kevin Myers in The Irish Times.

There are questions over Gatland's future, although he holds a contract for the Six Nations, and they are sure to intensify in the aftermath to this loss.

And, writes Myers, there are many other questions to be asked of this Irish side.

 

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