I’m writing this from a particularly quiet TGV carriage, heading back to Bordeaux. Guys are sprawled asleep. Because of the late kick-off, most of us didn’t put our heads down till after 3am and then we were up at eight to check out. Those who are awake have the headphones on and aren’t in the mood to chat. It’s hardly a surprise.

Losing is hard to take for a few reasons. You don’t mind losing to a good team but it’s frustrating when you’re on the biggest stage and you’re not playing to your potential. We were a good bit better than the previous two games but still not where we needed to be. I don’t care what anyone says: we’re still a good team and there were times, particularly in the first half, when it felt like one of the good days. It was nothing too fancy, just pick-and-jamming or making inroads one pass out, like the timethe time when the ref got in Trimby’s way. That’s when we’re good, when we can put good teams under pressure.

Sometimes we just lost our composure and didn’t retain the ball, which was frustrating. But not as frustrating as some of the decisions that went against us. A lot of them were marginal and our discipline is normally excellent. I thought they were harsh at times and that bugged me.

We were still in it at 12-3. The key was to score next but it didn’t happen. Then they’re 12 points clear and Michalak is starting to look really confident. In fairness to him, they were two smart kicks for the tries.

I had to watch the second of themfrom a chair onthe sidelines. I felt like the buachaill dána (bold boy) in school. It’s tough sitting there seeingwatching the lads struggle against the extra man, I don’t think I’ve been sinbinned since the Lions tour. You just have to take it on the chin.

The mood back at the hotel was very down. Normally you have Donners or Frankie or Brian Carney trying to crack a joke and lift people’s spirits. There was none of that here. But we’ve got to start thinking positively.

We must back ourselves to beat Argentina. At full strength, we haven’t lost to them since 2000. As for the four-try bonus point, we have to think of some of the tries this team has scored. With a long week ahead of us, we need to believe we can recapture some of that brilliance.

Sunday, September 16

Some of us are making a break for it tonight. Someone in the media renamed the team hotel Guantanamo Bay, but it is nowhere as bad as people like to make out. It’s in a quiet area with nice lakes and shopping centres close to us, so there is a chance to get out but to be honest,I am always busy preparing for games with video work, gym etc. I don’t have time to be playing the tourist. There’s talk of an unhappy camp. I’m joking — about the jail break, that is, not about the unhappy camp.

Of course we’re unhappy. What would you expect after two below-par performances? If lads were full of the joys, you’d worry more. I know there’s a lot of head-scratching at home and, to be honest, we’re as much at a loss. When we looked at the video of the Georgia game, I was thinking I’d love to cut out all the dropped balls and silly mistakes and then see what the problem is. No game-plan can work if the execution is poor.

The theory that we’vre been over-trained is still doing the rounds. If anything, I’d say we’ve been short on contact work because of the way the tournament has fallen and also, as we got a few injuries in the warm-up games, we’ve maybe been minding ourselves a bit too much.

This tournament is completely different to the Six Nations, when we come in battle-hardened from playing for our provinces. Sometimes you need to get back down to the hard work of hitting and being hit. The last few games have been very tough and now some of us are five games in our match sharpness should be there.

Personally speaking, I’d say my workrate is where it’s always been but I’d like to be making more power-plays, to be busting over the gainline a bit more, maybe knocking guys back in the tackle, making more impact at rucks. Everyone will need to make a bigger contribution against France.

Monday

I’m gutted for Strings, not merely for him to be dropped but to be left out of the 22. It’s unfamiliar territory for all of us to be going in there without him barking at our heels but, at the same time, I’ve no worries about Eoin Reddan. Reddser’s a lot like Jerry Flannery last year in that he has taken the hard way to get to where he is. He left Munster for Connacht, came back to Munster but it didn’t work out, then moved to Wasps and just backed himself all the time. It’s a big game to make your first start but he has played massive games in the Premiership and European Cup.

It’s a busy day. The couple of changes means we have a lot to get through at training. At least our opponents are familiar this time.

We’ve played against them so many times that we know what to expect.

I don’t buy into the idea that our World Cup starts here. At the same time, this is where the heavy-duty stuff really starts. I don’t think we’ll be as quick to try those four-on-three overlaps in our own 22 on Friday.

We have media duties after lunch. It’s noticeable how the emphasis has changed since our performances against Namibia and Georgia. Every question seems to have a negative slant. Should we be surprised? The way to look at it is if we win on Friday, we’ll enjoy the back-slapping as much as we hate getting slated.

Tuesday

This morning was probably our best training session since we arrived in France — but that’s probably not what you want to hear, though. It’s not nearly as juicy as some of the rumours coming back to us from home. Some of the stuff is unbelievable. I found the one about Geordan walking out hilarious. It’s not ideal for him but he finds it funny, too. Everyone keeps asking him, “What are you doing here? I thought you’d gone home.” I won’t dignify some of the other rubbish that has been said and written. This evening’s dinner is a pool-side barbecue — just so we don’t get cooped up.

Wednesday

Moving day. After lunch, it’s down to the Gare St Jean to board our private TGV to Paris. At least, I think it was private. We had first class to ourselves. Very plush. I killed the time by doing homework on my laptop. The three hours flew by.

We’re staying in the Sofitel at Porte de Sevres — funnily enough, the same hotel Munster stayed in when we played Stade Francais six seasons ago, which was only my second start in the European Cup. I said the world “unreal” about 24 times in my post-match interview. A happy memory.

Thursday

Everything is building nicely. We trained at a third division club on the outskirts of Paris and it was especially sharp, the quality high. In the afternoon it’s down to Montparnasse with Doc Gary O’Driscoll, who needs to buy a pair of jeans. He’s good to shop with; he buys the first pair he sees in the first shop we enter. Glancing at the French newspapers over coffee, the pressure on the French seems huge. Which is grand.

Saturday

Back in Bordeaux. Keep looking forward. There have been no speeches, no rants, despite what people might think. When you’re walking through the mixed zone after the match, journalists will ask you for the inspiring words that were spoken in the dressing room. Sometimes, there’s no need. You just let things simmer and then take their course.