Alan Quinlan harbours concerns about the "psychological damage" from Ireland's chastening loss to Japan.

Joe Schmidt's side failed to follow-up their opening Rugby World Cup pool victory against Scotland with another positive result.

Instead, hosts Japan fought back from an early deficit to defeat the Irish in Shizuoka.

Speaking on OTB AM, former Ireland and Munster back-row Quinlan discussed the after-effects on defeat on the team's psyche.

"It's another harsh lesson for this Irish group and one that psychologically has to cause damage. There's no doubt about it," he said.

Quarter-Final Scenario

"Right from the start, we said, 'Look, ultimately, it's probably a quarter-final scenario and come home after that'. Which would be very negative. But it's going to be even more negative now.

"Because they'll say, 'Well, predictable quarter-final happens, exit, but Japan also beat us as well. So it's been a disastrous World Cup.'"

He emphasised the need for Ireland to rediscover their "character".

2019 Rugby World Cup Pool A, Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan 28/9/2019. Ireland's Conor Murray dejected after the game ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

"They're capable of it. That's the good news for them - they are," he said.

"But they have to quickly figure out if a team comes at them, the template is there now and it's four losses in a year.

"So if a team comes up against Ireland now, non-rugby people will even be able to tell you this:

"Physically match Ireland, go after the set-piece, attack them at the breakdown and be in their faces. And [Ireland] don't really play in a way that can cut you open."

He also added that "it seems that the players go back to the process when they're under pressure".

"Whereas they've just got to play heads-up rugby," he said.

"They've just got to go for it at times."

But he also reemphasised the damage done to the psyche after Saturday.

"Ultimately, there's a lot of psychological damage. It's very difficult."

You can watch the full chat with Alan Quinlan above via our YouTube channel.

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