Paul O'Connell admits it will take "something special" to stay in the World Cup - but has ruled out a do-or-die assault against Argentina on Sunday.

The odds are heavily stacked against Ireland, who must dispatch the Pumas by more than seven points and score a minimum of four tries in the process.

Argentina's tryline remains intact after three matches in the World Cup's 'pool of death' and there is little to suggest Ireland will succeed where France, Georgia and Namibia have failed.

Reflecting on the need to score four tries, coach Eddie O'Sullivan spoke of implementing a high-risk strategy the morning after Friday's crushing 25-3 defeat by France.

But O'Connell insists there will be no death-or-glory approach to the Pool D finale at the Parc des Princes when Ireland stage their last-ditch effort to reach the quarter-finals.

"It is a massive challenge but we must just concentrate on beating Argentina. If we can win the game, something might come out of it," said the Munster lock.

"We're disappointed we're in this situation. We didn't want it to be like this but that's the way it is.
We won't be throwing caution to the wind because we won't benefit from that.

"We have to put Argentina under a bit of pressure, but you shouldn't be doing that from your own half of the pitch.

"We'll be trying to play a pressure game where we put phases together and see what happens. That's when defences start to crack - after six, seven or eight phases you see little holes in the opposition line."

Reduced to a pitiful rabble following a series of disappointing displays, Ireland's pretensions of reaching the World Cup knockout stages look risible.

The problems started with abject victories over group minnows Namibia and Georgia while last Friday's crushing 25-3 defeat by France exposed further inadequacies.

After the high of demolishing South Africa and Australia last autumn, they now find themselves pouring over the Pool D standings to see how they can scrape their way into the knockout stages.

"When you're aiming high and you're not playing well, it's definitely disappointing," said O'Connell
"But we're strong and there is a collective will to put it right. If we win at the weekend we'll have gone a long way towards doing that.

"If we can win with a big performance and do something special by winning by four tries, we're back in the competition. It's a very long shot but at least we would be back in the competition.

"Even though we were disappointing against France I think we played better. But at the same time we have to kick on from that game - and we can.

"Things clicked a little bit against France and if we can go another step up or another two steps up, we have a very good chance against the Pumas."

But also O'Connell insists being thick-skinned was the only way to deal with the host of stories that have surfaced around the Ireland camp.

"The rumours are all lies, you have to put them behind you and ignore them," he said. "The people who are spreading rumours will have achieved what they want if you let it get to you."

With gifted playmakers such as Juan Martin Hernandez and Felipe Contepomi in their ranks, Argentina's threat now stretches outside their feared pack.

"The Pumas are a very good team, they can play it both ways," said O'Connell. "They can play it very tight - they kicked it a lot against France - but if you look at their back line they are capable of spreading it as well.

"So you have to cover both bases and that is what we have been trying to do in training. I don't think they'll concentrate on defending their line. That's a bad way to put yourself under pressure and to lose a lead."