Madam, - I must agree with your rugby correspondent, Gerry Thornley, that the IRFU's "fudge" is impossible to stomach. In fact the way in which the IRFU "suits" handled the whole World Cup saga makes me nauseous. Each day they are becoming more and more like their counterparts in the FAI.
With the opening of the new IRFU/FAI Lansdowne Road stadium, the IRFU and FAI will be even more comfortable bedfellows than ever. The followers of Irish sports will then be giving them both the "two fingers", but for now our fingers are down our throats. - Yours, etc,
NOEL MacENTEE, Garryhundon, Milford, Carlow.
Madam, - With regard to the IRFU/Genesis review of the Irish rugby team's performance at the World Cup, I accept there is a need to appoint a person to play a support role for the national coach. I am also happy enough to accept the need to appoint a new backs' coach. The retention of a professional to provide ongoing psychological support for the team and management is without argument - imperative, even.
But what bothers me really is why the report does not recommend the appointment of a psychiatrist to attend to the mental condition of the supporters. - Yours, etc,
MICHAEL GEANEY, Templeogue Road, Terenure, Dublin 6W.
Madam, - It seems that the IRFU places the bulk of the blame for Ireland's poor World Cup performance on the lack of "a sufficient number of high intensity matches" prior to the tournament.
But when it comes to intensity, how high is high? And how many matches are enough? As I recall, Ireland had more than a few intense matches in the months running up to the tournament. These included two losses to Argentina in May, a loss to Scotland, a last-minute three-point victory over Italy in August, and the ultimate intense match against Bayonne three weeks before the tournament (remembered for Brian O'Driscoll's broken cheekbone). And surely Ireland's matches against Namibia and Georgia ultimately turned out to be bonus "high-intensity" preparation for the supposed big matches against France and Argentina.
For perspective, Namibia and Georgia had very little in the way of intense preparation, yet handled themselves very well against Ireland. Ironically, New Zealand had many high-intensity matches in the form of the Tri-Nations, yet they were ousted in the quarter-finals.
The IRFU's excuse is a little slick for my liking. The regular players and rugby club members who constitute the bulk of the union's membership are owed something a bit more honest than this - not to mention the future international players who stand to lose or gain by the quality of this post mortem. It's a hard question that demands hard answers. - Yours, etc,
RICHARD ROCHE, Chicago, USA.