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Dublin - Ireland veteran Ronan O'Gara has called on his team-mates to feel no shame in playing the conditions when Samoa visit Dublin this weekend following last Saturday's chastening loss to South Africa.
What all Ireland hoped would be a triumphant return to Lansdowne Road turned into a 23-21 loss as the home side, trying to force the ball despite the wind and the rain, repeatedly conceded possession.
Fly-half O'Gara's arrival off the bench for his 100th cap saw him create tries for Tommy Bowe and Rob Kearney and had the Munsterman's conversion of Kearney's try gone over, rather than hitting a post, the match would have been all square at 23-23.
But a draw against the world champions would have flattered Ireland and O'Gara said the side had been the agent of its own downfall.
"In the first half we played a lot of ball in difficult conditions," said O'Gara.
"With the talent we have sometimes we want to play ball all the time. We do have such good players in the backline.
"But in such wintry conditions I think that sometimes you're better off without the ball.
"It's bitterly disappointing to lose. It was a strange game. It felt like it was there to be won but we didn't win."
Defeat was compounded by the extraordinary sight of some 16,000 empty seats for a game that is usually a guaranteed sell-out after many fans were priced out of the game as a result of a the Irish Rugby Football Union's misguided ticket sales strategy.
"We need the supporters - it's because of them that Ireland have been so good for so long," O'Gara said.
"At the old Lansdowne Road there was an unbelievable atmosphere, so passionate and driven. We have to get those days back.
"Emotionally Ireland's greatest tool has been their fans. They've been so good to this team and we need them back.
"We need them more than ever. We miss them."
