Ireland will miss Paul O'Connell's off-the-cuff stand-up comedy just as much as his originality in pre-match war cries, according to Robbie Henshaw.
O'Connell's World Cup and Test career both came to a close on Tuesday when Ireland confirmed their captain must undergo surgery on a torn hamstring.
The 35-year-old drew global praise for his 108-cap run, with Wales coach Rob Howley branding the gritty lock a "world icon".
Connacht centre Henshaw explained how O'Connell could step straight from a tear-jerking team talk to a sharp-witted quip.
"The first time I met Paulie he was so welcoming to me as one of the youngest players in the squad," said the 22-year-old Henshaw. "He always took me under his wing, always helped me around the place.
"He always gave me that bit of advice but he wasn't too intense either, he could always switch off and crack a few jokes as well. He'd have a bit of craic with you around the dinner table.
"I'd always loved and admired that side to him, that he wasn't all intense, all work, but he was good craic off the pitch as well."
Meanwhile, Chris Henry revealed he shed a tear at O'Connell's pre-match battle-cry against France, but believes the absent skipper can still inspire Ireland.
And now the battling loose-forward believes few words will be required for Ireland to psych themselves up for Sunday's World Cup quarterfinal against the Pumas.
This is so wrong on many levels. One of the greatest leaders & players of them all. Inspirational. https://t.co/8blR5e2tJp
— Brian O'Driscoll (@BrianODriscoll) October 13, 2015
"The team talk does write itself ultimately this week," said Henry, waiting in the wings to start Sunday's quarterfinal. "There's a lot at stake and Jamie (Heaslip) speaks really well, but I don't think it's going to need too much speaking.
"Everyone's very, very focused, you can see it in the way people are floating around the place at the moment."
Hopes were high on Tuesday that linchpin fly-half Johnny Sexton may yet recover from his groin problem to face the Pumas in Cardiff as Ireland eye a first ever World Cup semifinal.
Sean O'Brien was locked in a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday lunchtime following his apparent punch to France lock Pascal Pape's ribs.
Should the 26-year-old face a ban for Sunday's Argentina clash, then Ireland would need to replace two of their three first-choice back-row forwards.