‘It isn’t about blaming Joe ... it’s about learning what we can do better’

There was never going to be a single reason for Ireland’s World Cup no-show, but the IRFU’s report into yet another failure at rugby’s biggest tournament will not sit well with former head coach Joe Schmidt.

The IRFU’s performance director David Nucifora yesterday delivered the comprehensive review of a campaign that ended with last month’s quarter-final trouncing by New Zealand to the governing body’s management committee and Professional Game Board and then divulged some of the 50 recommendations it made to a wider audience.