Tiredness is no excuse for Hamilton humiliation, says Best

There was a depressing sense of déjà vu when Rory Best walked out to face the music after Saturday night’s debacle.

When Ireland were comprehensively put to the sword by Wales in the quarter-final of last year’s World Cup, it was Best who arrived out first to talk to the Irish press.

Nine months ago underneath the Westpac Stadium in Wellington, the Ulster hooker wore the same haunted expression. The post-match scene in Hamilton was all too familiar, but this time it seemed to hurt so much more.