The IRFU have set up a review group, chaired by the union president Der Healy, to evaluate Ireland's performance at the World Cup just ended.

An independent consultant, Brian Porteous of Genesis, will communicate in confidence with team management, IRFU administration and others and report back to the review group and an IRFU committee.

Following discussion between the players' union, IRUPA, and the IRFU, Genesis will also sound out players by means of questionnaires and interviews.

The IRFU appointments committee will meet coach Eddie O'Sullivan and report to the review group.

The IRFU chief executive, Philip Browne, promised "a very thorough procedure, designed to professionally and methodically assess performance in all aspects of our preparation and participation in RWC 2007 and to identify lessons to be learnt for the future".

He added the review had no time limit but he expected it to be completed within "a matter of months".