Aside from the actual fact of missing out on hosting the 2023 Rugby World Cup, one of the issues that stuck in the craw for many during the immediate reaction yesterday, was the fact that Ireland's neighbours Scotland and Wales did not support this country's bid when it came to voting.

But beyond that, was the bid process adequate?

Former Munster and Ireland back row Alan Quinlan certainly doesn't think so as he made clear on OTB:am this morning with Ger and Eoin.

"I think this whole process is a joke," he said.

"It's horse-trading for a tournament. They're all lobbying with each other, they're all promising fixtures and warm-up fixtures for World Cups and World Cups ahead and that generates funds."

He also feels World Rugby have "egg on their face" as France beat the recommended bid South Africa.

"How fair is a secret ballot?" he queried.

But ultimately he feels the financial gap told in the end with Ireland losing out. 

"I just don't think we had the financial might to compete against France. They were the biggest danger," said Quinlan.

"When the technical review came out two weeks ago, speaking to a lot of people who had their finger on the pulse, they kept saying 'Beware of France' and France obviously went out in the last two weeks and they offered more money initially in the bid, the participation fee and they're talking about 17,000 jobs, one billion to the economy. They're just a massive country."

And as a comparatively much smaller country, Ireland will always be at a disadvantage as Quinlan pointed out.

"But I think it's a farce because what's the point in smaller nations ever competing for any of these tournaments ever again? It's a waste of time. Just give it to the big countries, forget this whole process of the romanticism around a smaller country getting it.

"My point is one of the things that we got knocked down on was experience of hosting a major tournament. Well, we'll never have experience if we don't get the opportunity."