Stephen Ferris insists World Cup warm-up defeats will be consigned to history if Ireland make a good start at the tournament itself, but is worried by Ireland's form.
A comprehensive defeat to England at Twickenham, off the back of an unconvincing Six Nations campaign, means confidence has been dented with less than a month to go before the tournament opener against Scotland.
Ferris was in London to witness the 57-15 defeat and says it was a tough watch.
"Has there been a slight regression from the previous couple of years? Or has everyone else got slightly better and we have stayed the same?
"It was hard viewing. I’m sure the players felt they let themselves down," he told RTÉ Sport.
With a malfunctioning lineout, a scrum going backwards and defensive frailties out wide, some players did little to further their inclusion on either the starting team or indeed a place in the World Cup squad.
"You have guys like Jean Kleyn, who we had massive hopes for. He wasn't too bad against Italy, but was anonymous against England for the whole game.
"I thought it would be easier to play yourself onto the plane, but it seems to be that a lot of guys might play their way out of the team."
One player Joe Schmidt will be hoping to have sooner rather than later is out-half Johnny Sexton. He is unlikely to feature this weekend against Wales, but could be back to face Warren Gatland's side a week later in the final outing before Japan.
With Joey Carbery still a doubt for the World Cup, it gives Schmidt a selection headache at 10 and he can ill-afford to be without talisman Sexton.
"It’s not just his playing ability, it’s also his leadership. A few times after tries were scored at Twickenham, the heads just dropped and everyone was looking around at one another for answers.
"You need a character like Johnny Sexton on the pitch to help galvanise you and give a bit of belief. I’m worried about that as Joey Carbery isn’t match fit."
For all the doom and gloom however, Ferris does see light at the end of the tunnel. Wins in the opening two pool games against Scotland and Japan would leave Ireland well placed for a quarter-final berth, with South Africa or New Zealand awaiting in the last eight.
Some lads can't play any worse
"The positive is that the game was played in the middle of August. We are a number of weeks away from the first game of the World Cup.
"If we get a good run at the World Cup, these warm-up games will be quickly forgotten about. It’s all about peaking at the right time.
"Some lads can’t play any worse."
