Ireland's latest Rugby World Cup quarter-final exit is significantly different to previous failures to advance to the last four, according to Stephen Ferris and Jerry Flannery.
Yet again Ireland came unstuck in the quest to reach a maiden semi-final, going down 28-24 to New Zealand in an absorbing contest in Paris.
Andy Farrell’s side fought back twice – initially after falling 13 points down in – and finished the game after 38 phases of play deep in New Zealand territory before coughing up a turnover.
Discussing the result in the context of Ireland’s dismal historical record in the knockout stages, the World Cup panel said the performance was markedly different to previous exits.
"It feels different," Ferris said. "If you look at previous World Cups (quarter-final defeats), we were never really in those games.
"This game we were right in it until the end."
Former Munster and Ireland hooker Flannery outlined how Ireland had "failed to show up" in previous quarter-final defeats, outlining a number of those losses.
"We didn’t show up in any of those games," he said. "We lost (against New Zealand), but we lost to a team that played phenomenally well.
"And we played well. We didn’t play at our very best, but we played well and were right in the mix."
Former Ulster, Lions and Ireland flanker Ferris added that the major disappointment stems from the fact that this team have raised the bar in terms of what we expect from the men in green at the highest level.
"It felt like the boys were going to kick in to gear and win the game because that is what we are so used to seeing in the last couple of seasons," he said.
"I think that is why people are so, so disappointed, because the expectations were so high. I’m sure the players feel a lot more disappointed than we do."
Fellow pundit Jamie Heaslip admitted that the cold facts would show that once again Ireland failed to achieve a knockout win, something that will tarnish their impressive body of work.
I look at this side and I think it's the best side we have ever had
The former Leinster and Ireland number 8 however believes that the current crop have taken Irish rugby to a new level.
"I look at this side and I think it’s the best side we have ever had," he said.
"They have enabled us all to dare to dream pretty big, and they have done that off consistent efforts and results over the last three years.
"For them to lose against New Zealand is tough, but they can be immensely proud of the effort they have put in."
