"Well played Argentina, you really deserved to win. If anything, the scoreline almost flattered us! Yet more disappointment for us Irish and the whole tournament was a disaster for us. I think Eddie O'Sullivan has shown a real lack of tactical awareness and the most insightful thing he can do now is leave."
kinsang on 606

1743: Argentina are lapping things up in the middle with Latin music blaring over the PA system. The winners do not want to leave the arena and prop Martin Scelzo is sporting the head of a tiger costume! The Irish have to hang around before being given a medal to commemorate their time at the World Cup. Bet that trinket will be in the trash before too long.

1742: Next up is Agustin Pichot. "We had a good game and knew Ireland would give everything. Our objective was to win all four games and today we succeeded."

1741: Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan is next in line for the microphone treatment. "We needed to score four tries but we couldn't get enough field position. The boys played their guts out but it wasn't to be," he says.

1740: Brian O'Driscoll is less than complimentary about Argentina, talking up the fact that he thought Ireland were the team that played while Argentina just kicked the ball until they were in an attacking position in the 22. "They're very difficult to play against," he says. What do you want them to do? It's called winning rugby.

"Ireland had high hopes, but seemed to have bottled it. Simple. But we must remember that this was not where they lost the group. If they had beaten France and beaten both Namibia and Georgia by 4 tries we would not be in this position at all."
twocents on 606

"Ireland are absolutely atrocious. It looks like invasion of the body snatchers. The Ireland team have been abducted and these useless sods have been put in their place."
Anonymous, via text on 81111

1737: FULL-TIME Ireland 15-30 Argentina
Agustin Pichot thumps the ball into touch in the first second of the 81st minute and that is that. It is party time for the men in blue and white. Question time for those in green. Why did it all go so wrong? Goodbye Ireland.
"Desperately, desperately disappointing for Ireland. It just hasn't happened for them at this World Cup."
Hugo MacNeill, BBC Radio 5live pundit

78 mins: DROP GOAL Ireland 15-30 Argentina
Argentina look to finish in style. Agustin Pichot stands over the ball, picks out Juan Martin Hernandez who lands another drop goal. Where's the nail? Where's the coffin?

76 mins: Argentine fans know this is in the bag and their party has started. For those in green the wake is on. A subdued rendition of 'Fields of Athenry' barely gets off the ground.

75 mins: Eddie O'Sullivan could hold a pint of Guinness on his bottom lip it's sticking out so far. Glum-faced and arms crossed. It wasn't supposed to be like this.

74 mins: Ronan O'Gara looks to thread a grubber kick through the eye of a needle in the Pumas 22 but it bounces back off an Argentine ankle and Ireland are going backwards when they want to be going forwards.

73 mins: As well as sending Ireland home, this Argentina performance means they will face Scotland in the quarter-finals, while New Zealand will meet France in Cardiff. Yup, France could be knocked out of their own tournament on foreign soil. Ridiculous.

72 mins: Ireland make progress down the right, but the closer they get to the 22 the harder it is to gain ground.

71 mins: Ireland give it a blast. Why not?

"Is O'Gara on the Argentine payroll? I have never seen so much free ball kicked to another team. Great servant over the years, but time to drop him, and a few others right behind. Hopefully EOS will do the honourable thing and resign. As per Wales, if not, should be fired. Not good enough!"
coldniall on 606

69 mins: Juan Martin Hernandez is in the pocket this time. He looks for the three points but fails to hit the target with the drop goal.

68 mins: Ireland are defending as Argentina probe for an opening. Felipe Contepomi drops into the pocket but dummies the drop and jinks past four men with dazzling footwork.

67 mins: Excellent defence from Ignacio Corleto who gathers a high, hanging cross kick on his own line under pressure from Shane Horgan. The Argentine full-back then stays down which irritates the majority of the full house. All a bit football from the Pumas as they eat up time with aches and pains.

66 mins: Ireland have to go for broke now but you've got to think they are dead and buried.

64 mins: PENALTY Ireland 15-27 Argentina
Felipe Contepomi had a mare in the first-half off the tee, but things are just dandy for him now as he converts another three points. The Leinster man is making a nuisance of himself. After that snide pop at Ronan O'Gara he has patronisingly patted Donnacha O'Callaghan on the head.

63 mins: A darting run from Felipe Contepomi in midfield and he is caught high by Donnacha O'Callaghan. Referee Paul Honiss plays the advantage... for the time being.

62 mins: Into the final quarter and time is seriously slipping away from Ireland. Two tries needed and if they can keep Argentina out they need to get up to 32 points as well. Surely that's out of the question.

61 mins: PENALTY Ireland 15-24 Argentina
Desperate defence from Ireland and they are caught offside in front of their posts. Felipe Contepomi, after having a verbal pop at Ronan O'Gara, slots.

59 mins: Game of ping-pong with the boot. Ronan O'Gara looks to pin Ireland back but can't find touch. Juan Martin Hernandez clears. Geordan Murphy returns the ball, but it comes back with interest, and some, from Argentina. Calls that Murphy was taken out off the ball as he chased his kick ahead, but referee Paul Honiss is having none of it.

"Hernandez is having a cracker of a game and is showing what southern hemisphere rugby is about."
Caymanianblue on 606

"More updates! Stuck on a train standing near Oxford and desperate to know more info."
Paul, via text on 81111
More updates! This keyboard's already on fire.

55 mins: Make that a terrible two minutes. Ronan O'Gara kicks the ball away. Wasteful.

54 mins: A terrible minute of rugby. Ireland knock-on at the base of a scrum and Argentine skipper Agustin Pichot arrows a kick into touch on the full.

53 mins: Denis Hickie is isolated on the left as he runs out of defence and Argentina get another turnover. There had been a glimmer of more structure to proceedings, but it is all getting haphazard again.

52 mins: A defensive lineout from Ireland. Textbook. Clean ball, strong drive and a clearing kick.

51 mins: Argentina lose the ball on their own throw, but then Ireland gift possession back to the Pumas when Gordon D'Arcy loses the ball in contact.

48 mins: Two converted tries. That would do it for Ireland, so long as they keep their own line intact.

47 mins: TRY Ireland 15-21 Argentina
Keep it simple and reap the reward. Ireland take the ball off the top of a lineout and excellent passing down the three-quarters, with flanker David Wallace getting in on the act to give the scoring pass to Geordan Murphy. Ronan O'Gara misses the conversion.

46 mins: Juan Martin Hernandez is quite magnificent under the high ball. He gathers that Geordan Murphy up-and-under, keeps the ball close and Argentina clear. Time for Ireland to go with a different tactic.

45 mins: Things just aren't going for Ireland. Six phases of possession but they can't get anything from that possession before losing the ball in contact.

43 mins: Lucas Ostiglia comes off second best as he attempts to tackle a rampaging Geordan Murphy. The flanker's groggy but he doesn't want to come off after treatment.

"Doesn't look good. Murphy has flair but loses the ball too easily & too often in contact causing Ireland more problems than he causes the opposition."
Jos via text on 81111

42 mins: PENALTY Ireland 10-21 Argentina
The perfect start to the second half for Argentina... and the worst Ireland. Felipe Contepomi makes it two from four and pushes the Pumas 11 points in front.

41 mins: Ireland lock Donnacha O'Callaghan collapses a maul just outside the Irish 22 on their right flank and it's a penalty for Argentina.

1653: Ireland have 40 minutes to turn this around as Argentina, who have won 11 of their last 13 Tests against northern hemisphere rivals, get the game up and running again.

"Why after Eddie O'Sullivan saying over and over and over again you play simply do they insist on throwing the ball around like lunatics instead of doing some catching and driving and playing sensibly? Maybe it's the players fault and not EOS's."
jb1974 on 606

"Ireland always make it hard for themselves. They had a golden opportunity to go top of the group and have an easier quarter-final but instead they are fighting for survival."
Anonymous, via text on 81111

1644: HALF-TIME Ireland 10-18 Argentina
Uh oh. Not good for Ireland
"Well done Argentina, they have played with their heads and their hearts. Ireland aren't playing with intelligence. Eddie O'Sullivan and Brian O'Driscoll have to calm them down. Three tries in the second half is not impossible."
Hugo MacNeill, BBC Radio 5live pundit

39 mins: Geordan Murphy loses the ball in possession on halfway and Argentina counter. Lucas Borges and Ignacio Corleto chase the ball ahead but it is Juan Martin Hernandez who gets to it first. His kick ahead spins wildly off the boot and Ireland can recover. Phew.

38 mins: TRY & CONVERSION Ireland 10-18 Argentina
More spectacular play from Juan Martin Hernandez sparks a promising Pumas attack. The ball goes from backs to forwards, who take play into the danger zone, and when it is returned to the three-quarters Horacio Agulla scores in the corner. The conversion from Felipe Contepomi goes in off the right post.

37 mins: Fast and furious rugby. An Argentine attack, after a fortuitous ricochet, is repelled and now Ireland run from deep.

35 mins: DROP GOAL Ireland 10-11 Argentina
Argentine winger Horacio Agulla is free on the left but is quickly closed down. They keep the ball alive and when it comes back right again Juan Martin Hernandez swings the boot and puts the Pumas back in front.

33 mins: Ireland are playing with a bit more pizzazz, but a knock-on from Marcus Horan checks that swelling confidence.

32 mins: That has got the crowd going again.

31 mins: TRY & CONVERSION Ireland 10-8 Argentina
There's try number one. Denis Leamy wins the lineout and when it goes to the backs Brian O'Driscoll collects a flat Ronan O'Gara pass and spears under the posts. O'Gara makes the five points seven.

30 mins: Ireland turn down the three points this time and go for the corner.

29 mins: Geordan Murphy's on the deck as he follows up his own kick after a collision with rival full-back Ignacio Corleto. He led with the shoulder and Parc des Princes is baying for a yellow card. None comes but it is a penalty.

28 mins: Ireland are in Argentina territory. They haven't been there for a while... and they're not there long this time. Blitz defence by marauding blue and white shirts and the Irish are free-wheeling back into their own half.

27 mins: More ball for the Argentine backs and they run it this time. Felipe Contepomi races at Leinster team-mates Brian O'Driscoll and Gordon D'Arcy and is pinged for holding on in the tackle.

26 mins: Slow ball for Argentina before Juan Martin Hernandez throws up a massive bomb. It's too hot to handle for Geordan Murphy, but Brian O'Driscoll collects the scraps off the turf and clears.

25 mins: A pause in this breakneck match as Denis Leamy receives attention to a finger injury. When he gets the go-ahead to continue it is straight into action in a defensive scrum for the number eight. Ireland clear their lines.

24 mins: On Argentina's last attacking scrum they scored and number eight Gonzalo Longo picks and goes again as he did then. He's met by a wall of green which may as well be marked with a giant no entry sign.

23 mins: Juan Martin Hernandez is known as The Magician and shows exactly why he's so highly thought of. The Argentine 10 gathers a bomb and spins away from two on-rushing tacklers in one graceful movement. It launches a piercing Pumas attack and the south Americans are now camped on the Irish line.

22 mins: Good possession from Argentina. After en edgy start the Pumas are in their stride now.

20 mins: DROP GOAL Ireland 3-8 Argentina
The Pumas restore their five-point advantage within seconds. Juan Martin Hernandez slots a steepling drop.

19 mins: PENALTY Ireland 3-5 Argentina
Strange. Ireland turned down the chance of points from the boot earlier on, but they don't this time. Ronan O'Gara slots from under the posts. Remember, it's tries they need. Four of them.

18 mins: Nice from Ireland, but it's still all too frantic. Like that advert for a Dutch beer, they need to start taking their time and think things through. Play clever rugby and not chaotic rugby.

17 mins: What can Ireland do in response? They have one just one game in Paris in 35 years.

16 mins: TRY Ireland 0-5 Argentina
Gonzalo Longo picks up the ball at the base of the scrum, feeds Agustin Pichot on the blindside who in turn releases Lucas Borges. The winger ducks under a tackle and darts over. Felipe Contepomi hasn't got his kicking boots on. Another one slides wide of the sticks.

14 mins: Ireland claim the ball from an attacking lineout and put on the drive. They're held up. The ball is popped out and they go again. Ireland's defence holds firm but they face another Argentine scrum.

12 mins: Things are settling down a touch, but yet again Ronan O'Gara overcooks a kick. It bobbles and bounces agonisingly through the deadball area and into touch so play comes all the way back to the Irish half for a Pumas put in.

10 mins: It's a scrappy game being played at 100-miles-an-hour and after tit-for-tat exchanges off the boot a chance for Argentina. Ireland fail to field a dropping ball and Felipe Contepomi hacks it on. Fortunately for Ireland Denis Hickie puts on the afterburners and is back to touch the ball down dead before Contepomi.

"Ireland are playing self-destruct rugby."
Hugo MacNeill, BBC Radio 5live pundit

9 mins: A horrible penalty attempt from Felipe Contepomi. It was always going wide. A let off for Ireland.

8 mins: It does and Denis Hickie is chasing a kick to the corner, but the bounce of the ball goes away from him and Argentina get to it first. The Pumas grind the ball forward and on their first visit into the Irish half earn a penalty.

7 mins: Argentina are all at sea and the Irish have a put in on the Pumas 22. Hopefully it goes better than that early lineout.

6 mins: Play goes on around Irish skipper Brian O'Driscoll as he receives treatment to a leg injury. He's back on his feet.

5 mins: Still all Ireland. Ronan O'Gara launches a bomb but it is way too long. Ignacio Corleto gathers and that will relieve some pressure.

4 mins: Argentina win the lineout on the Irish throw after the ball squirts from Paul O'Connell's grasp. Not what was needed.

3 mins: David Wallace powers off a ruck and Ireland are within five metres. They win a penalty and go for the corner. Sod the three points, they want and need tries.

2 mins: A skewed defensive kick from Juan Martin Hernandez from behind his own line. Nervy. Things get a bit testy and referee Paul Honiss could have a firecracker of a game on his hands. The New Zealander has words with the two skippers.

1 min: Ireland are on the money early. A chip and chase from Ronan O'Gara causes chaos in the Argentine ranks and Ireland are on the front foot.

1600: This is it.
"Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name..."
germooney on 606

Ireland: Murphy, Horgan, O'Driscoll, D'Arcy, Hickie, O'Gara, Reddan, Horan, Flannery, Hayes, O'Callaghan, O'Connell, Easterby, D. Wallace, Leamy.
Replacements: R. Best, Young, O'Kelly, N. Best, Boss, P. Wallace, Duffy.
Argentina: Corleto, Borges, M. Contepomi, F. Contepomi, Agulla, Martin Hernandez, Pichot, Roncero, Ledesma, Scelzo, C. Fernandez Lobbe, Albacete, Ostiglia, J. Fernandez Lobbe, Longo Elia.
Replacements: Basualdo, Hasan, Kairelis, Durand, Fernandez Miranda, Todeschini, Senillosa.

1558: More stoic singing from the Irish than their Latin rivals as they belt out 'Ireland's Call'. It time for the hairs to stand up on the back of your neck.

"The Parc des Princes is absolutely jumping for this one. Fantastic atmosphere."
BBC Sport's Bryn Palmer in Paris

1557: The Pumas have got themselves in a right tizz for this one. Some have tears in their eyes as they bellow out their anthem and skipper Agustin Pichot jumps out of the line on the last chord to gee them up further.

1555: A febrile atmosphere is being stoked further by some dramatic orchestral music before the anthems. It's like something from 'Gladiator' out there

1553: The Irish XV walked through a guard of honour from their fellow squad members as they left the changing room and are now given a roaring welcome as they emerge alongside the Pumas.

1551: If you're of a green persuasion and need reasons to believe have a read of Alastair Eykyn's blog detailing reasons why Ireland can do it.

1549: Will Ireland do it? Have your say on 606 or drop us a text via 81111.

1547: A packed house at the Parc des Princes and the vast majority will be supporting Ireland. 'Allez les Verts' could be the order of the day.

"The Argentina supporters may be outnumbered but they are in buoyant mood and clearly believe their team are going to finish what they started at the Stade de France on opening night and top the pool. Ireland fans by contrast are in muted form by their standards. The widespread feeling seems to be that any sort of victory would be a reasonable result after a dismal campaign, but there is little optimism they will get the four tries they need against a Pumas defence that has yet to concede a try in their three games so far."
BBC Sport's Bryn Palmer in Paris

1545: France are top of the Pool D pile after handsomely beating Georgia, but will they stay there. What are the permutations? To reach the last eight Ireland need to score four tries and beat Argentina by eight points or more. That would also mean France stay in pole position. Anything less and it will be Argentina and France going through.

"Tremendous scenes on the Metro on the way to the Parc des Princes for the Ireland v Argentina crunch clash. Loads of Pumas fans in blue and white wigs got in a carriage full of Irish fans and are they are all chanting and singing 'my bonny lies over the ocean!'"
BBC Sport's Bryn Palmer in Paris