Browne: Coach and IRFU not at odds

IRFU chief executive Philip Browne insisted yesterday that reports of a major difference between the governing body and Joe Schmidt over the role of one of the union’s committees have been greatly exaggerated.

It had been claimed the Kiwi held reservations over the fact his predecessor as Ireland coach, Declan Kidney, was expected to report to the National Team Review Group on the evenings before Test matches.

“I think you guys have made a big play on all of that,” said Browne. “The reality is, from our point of view, there are three blocs in the season: the autumn internationals, the Six Nations and the [summer] tour. The reality is we debrief and review at the end of each of those blocs, as any good organisation would.