If Ireland were to win the World Cup – actually, let's not get carried away any more, if Ireland were to reach the final – then Paul O'Connell, Peter O'Mahony, Seán O'Brien, Jared Payne and Johnny Sexton needed to be on deck.

That’s the five best players in the squad as Rory Best and Jamie Heaslip, while consistently superb, have replacements who could at least mask their loss (Robbie Henshaw has just been a lovely bonus).

"We certainly haven't played any Tests where we're caught so badly after losing experienced [players] ," Joe Schmidt conceded. "I don't think we've ever been in a situation where we've lost so many people at once and that includes Jared Payne."

Payne's fractured foot was when Ireland's grand World Cup aspirations began to unravel. The domino effect, caused by the worst possible injuries, ended with Argentina looking far better than they actually are. While they produced an at times stunning performance it was against an unrecognisable Ireland XV.

Everything had been built around O’Connell and Sexton since Schmidt took the reigns in the summer of 2013. And the foundations of so many platforms, attacking and defensive, were built on the presence of O’Brien and O’Mahony.

Rapid possession

Argentina sought out Ian Madigan and flooded the outside centre channel because their backrow supplied them with rapid possession.

"It's hard," Chris Henry admitted. "You're playing against one of the best operators in [Juan Martin] Fernandez Lobbe. He was all over the place."

Argentina identified Irish weaknesses and exposed them in a manner Schmidt admired afterwards. And Payne was the glue that kept Ireland’s midfield intact.

“Defensively, out wide, I don’t think the players have got it wrong in saying he’s been crucial to that,” Schmidt said. “I know there are some people who probably don’t do a lot of analysis who have criticised him, but perhaps they’ll see that he certainly brings a fair bit of that for us.”

Then Schmidt checked himself: “At the same time, I think Keith Earls has had a super tournament; there’s so many guys who have done really well. It’s massively disappointing for me to see their disappointment and to see that some of these guys won’t get another opportunity at a World Cup.”

O'Connell is gone and Mike Ross has a season to run on his contract but presuming the O'Mahony, Sexton and Tommy Bowe injuries heal in four months then the Ireland that toppled France will turn out for the Six Nations.

“What I’d hate to think is that people see that as any criticism of the people who stepped up – Chris Henry, Jordi Murphy, Ian Madigan and both the secondrows have done a great job today,” Schmidt added.

Still, the battle hardened Pumas caught Ireland cold.

“It just felt that every time we got the ball, we were chopped,” said Henry. “They were flying off the line and I don’t think we’ve come across a side that gets off the line like that and chops people so hard.

“Chatting to a few of the lads afterwards, we found it really difficult to get over the gain line which is something we’re usually very good at – building phases. We showed great character to come back obviously. In the second half, we felt that the momentum was turning for us. Unfortunately we were beaten by a much better side.”

The Ulster flanker does not lie. The question is put whether this Ireland were in the right place emotionally or if the loss of so many leaders seeped into their psyche and left no room for anything else.

Into battle

“I don’t know,” Henry replied. “I don’t have the answer to be honest. I felt before the game that we were ready to go into the battle. But as you said, we were flat. We weren’t hitting rucks like we were in the past.

“You don’t want to look for excuses but obviously missing big personalities for a team is one thing and maybe another time, there’d a be a bit more luck.”

It would have been different if even one from O’Brien, Sexton or O’Mahony were there. It always is. “We didn’t think this was the end of the journey for us and it’s just very tough to take,” concludes Henry.

Argentina's coach Daniel Hourcade found explanation for his team's hard, high tempo and fluid play in the decision three years ago to allow Argentina play in the Rugby Championship against New Zealand, South Afric and Australia. That has allowed them to blossom.

“For us the growth has been enormous since 2012,” said Hourcade. “We started changing, started building. It goes a long way back. Since that moment it was important.

“Playing every year requires preparation and perfection. That allows you get used to it and this type of game becomes normal. Plus we like it.”