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"He's not impervious to criticism" | Brian O'Driscoll on Nucifora report

Former Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll beleives David Nucifora shouldn't be excluded from critic...



Former Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll beleives David Nucifora shouldn't be excluded from criticism after Ireland's quarter-final exit at the Rugby World Cup.

Ireland's High Performance Director compiled a IRFU report after Joe Schmidt's Ireland got demolished 46-14 by New Zealand.

The former Leinster captain joined Friday night's Off The Ball to talk about the report.

O'Driscoll compared the high performance title to that of a director of rugby role, and argued the Australian should be critiqued in the same light as his colleagues.

"It's a director of rugby title, isn't it. You are an overall viewer of things. Of course he's not impervious to criticism.

"He was the one who laid it out that anything less than a semi-final would bee seen as a disappointment. They were his words,' added the former Irish captain.

The former British and Irish Lion's centre thinks Nucifora's role within the coaching set up makes him open to criticism. O'Driscoll says the Australian must take some responsibility.

"When you throw him in and you have more of a part to play within the coaching environment, and the set up (there's clearly a close relationship between him, Joe and some of the other coaches ), well then you can't all of a sudden separate yourself from the criticism that's been thrown in their direction, and not be part of that.

He believes Nucifora should have scaled a larger array of people involved in the squad and look on areas as to improve the squad. The Dubliner says he's very surprised that the IRFU'S High Performance Director hasn't been asked any questions.

"So, I'm surprised Nucifora didn't do a full holistic view on where it all went wrong, and how you can change.

"Surely you've got to interview everyone that's been involved, and I'm surprised to hear that no one asked him any questions - I'm sure he was a bit taken a back when a journalist asked him, 'Who interviewed you?,' explained O'Driscoll.

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