Coaches pick up pieces after World Cup fall-out

IT’S been a tough week for Joe Schmidt and Tony McGahan as they congratulated themselves – and their charges – on World Cup selection, while dealing with the emotionalfallout of those who failed to make the plane.

For every Conor Murray and Fergus McFadden there’s Tomás O’Leary and Luke Fitzgerald. Both coaches gave the World Cup surprise packages their big breaks last season, they now have to nurse the disappointments suffered by their Grand Slam winners.

“I particularly feel disappointed for Luke,” Schmidt said at the launch of the RaboDirect Pro12 yesterday.