To put a positive spin on this, it could be argued that, like all the European nations, Ireland used the games to tinker about and find their most successful combinations. If so, and if coach Declan Kidney has the answers he was looking for, well and good.
But they did look patchy against their European chums, and they've had a tough injury break, too.
Veteran flanker David Wallace copped a bad knee ligament injury against England and his place goes to Shane Jennings, a 30-year-old opensider from Dublin.
Ireland also lost a strong fullback contender in Felix Jones a couple of days before the squad was named, but they are blessed with a core of experienced operators, both up front and in the backline.
Start with captain Brian O'Driscoll, who has been leader for eight years. At his peak he was among the world's best centres, and if at 32 he's understandably lost an edge of speed, he remains a smart operator with the wisdom of 113 tests to call on.
His partnership with Gordon D'Arcy is pretty solid, Tommy Bowe and Andrew Trimble are distinctly handy wings; while Jonathan Sexton is among Europe's more capable first five-eighths.
The Munster men Paul O'Connell and Donncha O'Callaghan should ensure secure lineout supply plus plenty of grunt and at loose forward the Irish are well served.
Rugged No 8 Jamie Heaslip and Stephen Ferris, Sean O'Brien - who looked a dynamic operator against France - and Denis Leamy mean the Irish won't be shorthanded in a key department.
Any Irishman who knows his World Cup history will remember October 20, 1991 when Ireland came as close as they ever have to making the semifinals.
Five minutes from the end, Ulsterman Gordon Hamilton dashed 40m for what could have gone down as one of the most famous tries in Irish history to make it 18-15 against Australia. But the great Michael Lynagh had the final say, setting up and scoring the winner to kill Ireland's dreams.
"Our goal is to achieve what no other Irish team has done in a World Cup before," O'Driscoll, preparing for his fourth and final cup, said.
Four years ago Ireland played a shocker, dumped out before the knockout stage, a whisker away from a humiliating loss to bold Georgia, walloped by France and eliminated by Argentina.
Now, that August form doesn't bode particularly well. Australia are one thing, but Ireland must topple Italy in what is shaping as the crunch game of the group, at Dunedin on October 2.
It has "upset" writ large across it, although Italy haven't exactly been in magic touch either.
Peter Bills on Ireland:
It depends which day and which mood you wish to discuss. Did we see the real Ireland in the demolition job on England which debunked the myth of a likely England Grand Slam at the end of the Six Nations in March?
Commanding up front and at halfback and with Jonny Sexton having nailed down the starting role at No 10, Ireland have a devastating back row where Jamie Heaslip and the rapidly emerging Sean O'Brien have made themselves indispensable.
It's uncertain whether Leinster's success in the Heineken Cup can be translated into the national team. It's true, the Heineken Cup is not international rugby, still less a World Cup. But the dynamism with which Leinster saw off European rugby's best offered significant clues as to the capabilities of these players.
Problem is, they rarely produce such dynamism or clinical performances on a regular basis at test level.
Undeniably, the pool match against Australia will define their World Cup. Win that and optimism and self-belief should soar. Lose it, and another quarter-final exit looms.
But they could go further this time. Clearly, they have the players.
Fixtures:
Pool C
Sunday September 11 v USA, Stadium Taranaki (New Plymouth)
Saturday September 17 v Australia, Eden Park (Auckland)
Sunday September 25 v Russia, Rotorua International Stadium (Rotorua)
Sunday October 2 v Italy, Dunedin Regional Stadium (Dunedin)
- HERALD ONLINE
