A perennial problem for Irish rugby is once again rearing its ugly head.
The ex-Australian hooker arrived in Dublin in 2014 to take on a newly created position to transform the sport for the Irish and his exit on Thursday came after the conclusion of the Olympic rugby sevens in Paris earlier this week.
Andy Farrell was directed into a vast Kings Park boardroom next door where the long long-table set up now dwarfed the water bottle-holding coach and the half-dozen journalists invited along for an embargoed eight-minute, nine-question debrief.
Caelan Doris will skipper the Six Nations champions against South Africa on Saturday.
As the IRFU launches a four-year strategic plan, Andy Farrell's side tackle the Springboks without several key players.
England were yet again left to search for positives after a narrow loss to Argentina, ramping up the pressure on Eddie Jones
Ireland lifted the spirts of a nation at a rocking Aviva Stadium in Dublin but for the players, there will be no getting carried away, they know making meaningful progress in the 2023 World Cup is a priority