Ireland head coach Andy Farrell said he was “unbelievably proud” of his players as they bowed out of the World Cup quarter-finals with defeat by New Zealand in Paris.
The Irish pushed the All Blacks all the way but fell short as they failed to reach the semi-finals for the first time in Johnny Sexton’s last game.
With Sexton retiring, Farrell said it felt like “the end” for this group.
“Sport can be cruel at times,” said Farrell.
“But I’m unbelievably proud of the group the way they have handled themselves, not just today but over the last couple of years.”
Ireland had been fancied to go all the way in this year’s World Cup after building a remarkable 17-match winning sequence that encompassed a series win in New Zealand, a Grand Slam and a statement Pool B win over world champions South Africa.
When Ireland lost to the All Blacks in the 2019 quarter-finals, they were comprehensively outplayed but the world’s number one side pushed New Zealand until the end on another spellbinding night inside Stade de France.
Refusing to go down with a whimper offered Farrell some solace amid the agony of Ireland’s eighth quarter-final exit at rugby’s quadrennial showpiece.
“I mean if you go out with a whimper it’s pretty hard to take, isn’t it. We deserve a little bit more of ourselves than that and we didn’t, did we,” added Farrell, who said veteran wing Keith Earls will follow Sexton in retiring.
“I’m immensely proud of absolutely everyone connected to Irish rugby to be fair. The staff have been immense over the last four years.
“The players, not just in this squad but the players we’ve used in the four year cycle have been a joy to work with. And not just that, the connection with the fans, it seems like it’s all one big family.
“I think the sad thing now for us is that for this group it’s probably the end. Obviously, it is for Johnny (Sexton), and Keith Earls he is going to retire as well.
“Over the next 24 hours it’s time to make sure we get a smile back on our face as soon as we possibly can and celebrate what have been some unbelievable careers and what they have done for Irish rugby.”
While Ireland’s World Cup campaign had a gut-wrenching conclusion, Farrell remains steadfast in his belief that the future is bright for Irish rugby.
“Just knowing what we’ve got, the type of character that we’ve got, the type of people that we’ve got, the type of player, staff, the hunger to want to wear the green jersey etc,” he said when asked why he thinks this team will continue to grow.
“It is the end for this team because people are going to be leaving but the competition that this team has built over the years will continue because of how it has been driven, certainly over the last couple of years.
“The talent that we’ve got in Ireland will continue to come through and will continue to challenge, I’ve no doubt about that.”
Ireland will go on to achieve great things without me – Sexton
It is the end of the road for Sexton, who hangs up the green jersey for the final time after a 14-year Test career in which he won 119 caps and four Six Nations titles, two of which were Grand Slams.
“The last couple of years, in a green jersey anyway, have been the most enjoyable of my career,” said the departing Ireland captain, just about keeping his emotions in check in the post-match news conference.
“It’s an incredible place to be and that’s what I’ll miss. But grateful as well, sitting here at 38, I’ve had a few ups and downs.
“I’ll probably reflect on it a bit more in the next couple of weeks, spend time with my family.”
Asked for his message to the Irish fans, Sexton said: “Thank you. How can you be prouder to be Irish when you see what’s happened over the last six weeks really. We get behind the team like no other, it’s incredible and it’s not wasted on us.
“That’s why it is so hard to take really, that we didn’t give them another couple of weekends.
“This group will bounce back. They’re an incredible group, led by the man beside me. The best group I have ever been a part of, bar none.
“These guys they will go on and achieve great things and I’ll be sitting in the stand, having a pint like you lads.”
