Well done Joe on a great job overall

SIR,

The armchair critics of the match between the All-Blacks and the Irish rugby team seem only to want to focus on the snapshot of the match itself, rather than the overall picture of the impressive years we all know as the Schmidtera in Irish rugby. Too bad because that is their own self-serving and punitive shortcoming.

Of course, we would have preferred a different end result against the All-Blacks but, on the day, it was not meant to be. New Zealand was better and we were sent packing. That’s sports, plain and simple.

It’s no slight against Joe. He has a long, proud history with rugby in Ireland. First, with three years as head coach of Leinster – winning four trophies – and then five years with Irish Rugby, winning the Six Nations Championship three times. He was also named Manager of the Year in 2014. The list of accolades is a long one.

So, yes... this is the end of an era that we all wanted to come to a better final chapter.

But let’s not use Joe as a whipping boy because our vicarious dream of a Rugby World Cup did not come true.

Under Joe’s leadership, we were treated to endless hours of topflight rugby from exceptionally dedicated players. We should consider ourselves privileged to have been witness to it. It will not come our way again soon.

Joe is only 54-years-of age as he heads back to his native New Zealand with his wife and children. He has his own trunk full of Irish memories to bring with him, including his Irish citizenship.

So, he can come back any time he wants to – he’ll always have a home here.

Safe journey, sir and all the best from your thousands of Irish rugby fans,

Sincerely,

Tom Cahill Ballkinskelligs

Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt in conversation with Jonathan Sexton and Conor Murray before thequarter-final match between New Zealand and Ireland at the Tokyo Stadium in Chofu, Japan.