Provincial failings have been flagged for a long time

With Leinster and Munster already out and Ulster also in danger of failing to qualify for the knock-out stages of the European Champions Cup, is it time for rugby administrators to hit the panic button? Has the demise of Irish club rugby contributed to the ailing fortunes and do they have a bigger role to play in the future? Barry Coughlan canvassed the opinions of the country’s coaches.

Mike Ruddock, Lansdowne and former Wales Grand Slam winning coach:

I wouldn’t panic. I wouldn’t rip up the provincial model. I think this year has been exceptional in that it came off the back of the World Cup, a lot of players were away for a long time, and then it was straight back into Europe without playing that many games. That was one factor while you also had a lot of transition in some provinces. Anthony Foley, for instance, is only in his second season, there were changes in back room staff, changes in personnel.