So, the quarter-final line-ups are now complete. Argentina finish top of Pool D after yet another beautifully controlled piece of rugby, France face the mighty All Blacks at the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff, while Ireland join Wales on the early flight home.

But how can a team with the calibre of Ireland get their World Cup campaign so wrong? This is possibly the most talented generation in Irish history and yet they couldn't even get past the first round.

Yes, they had a tough group, but that's no excuse for the limp, lifeless performances they served up their thousands of travelling fans over the last few weeks.

Many fingers will be firmly pointed in the direction of coach Eddie O'Sullivan, who strangely had his contract extended on the eve of the competition. This is the same bunch of players that have been terrorising the rest of the northern hemisphere over the last few years, but he has somehow crafted a losing team out of that same squad.

The smart money will be on O'Sullivan dusting off his CV in search of a new job in the next few days, just like Gareth Jenkins after the Welsh were bundled out by the Fijians yesterday.

Meanwhile the Pumas continue to impress, with their reward being a quarter-final against Scotland, a match they really should win quite easily. I cannot see how the Scots can gain parity up front with this fearsome Argentine pack, and from there the task gets harder.

Argentina then, looking good for a place in the semi-finals for the first time in their history, and you have to admit that they deserve it on current form.