Muller fears well founded as US turn on style

GENE MULLER’S misgivings over the format of the Champions Challenge I were confirmed in galling style as his Ireland side were dumped out of contention at the quarter-final stage by the USA at Belfield last night.

Prior to the tournament, the South African had lamented a bizarre structure which saw all eight teams advance to the quarter-finals regardless of where they finished in the group stage.

There remained a suspicion, therefore, that the big teams were keeping their powder dry until the knockout stages, a theory given more legs as pool winners Ireland and South Africa were eliminated by basement sides USA and Spain respectively.