Jared Payne is sad Joe Schmidt and Rory Best did not get the send-off from Irish rugby they deserved.
The New Zealand-born centre, capped 20 times for Ireland under Schmidt and a team-mate of Best’s for both Ulster and country, acknowledged sport can be “mean” in the wake of the mauling by the All Blacks.
Payne said: “What Joe has done with the Irish camp, the way he’s turned rugby round there, well it’s disappointing for them both to go out like that.
“Sport is not the nicest thing at times unfortunately. They didn’t get the kind of send-off they deserved.”
Payne was invited by Schmidt to be part of his coaching staff for the 2018 summer tour in Australia, with Ireland recording their first series win Down Under in 39 years.
Now as Ulster’s defence coach, he watched Ireland’s exit with a mix of despair and admiration for the land of his birth.
He said: “If you don’t front up against the best team in the world and let them into the game it’s going to be a long night at the office.”
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