Kidney backs O'Gara's message
Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:04
Ireland coach Declan Kidney believes Ronan O'Gara's stinging criticism of his teammates could spark the struggling team into life.
Ahead of Ireland's clash with Argentina here on Saturday, O'Gara pleaded with his team-mates to start "buying into the Irish jersey a little more".
Inspired by watching Munster's heroic defeat by New Zealand on Tuesday night, O'Gara compared the epic display by his province's second string to Ireland's 22-3 capitulation to the All Blacks last weekend.
Kidney admits his side's morale has been at rock-bottom since defeat against the All Blacks and he hopes O'Gara's outburst will provide them with the motivation to beat Argentina at Croke Park.
"I've known Ronan a long time and sometimes he just blurts out his honesty - it's his own inner frustration. The lads are innately honest," he said on Friday.
"Ireland is a brilliant place to live and slagging each other off is an innate part of it that we all enjoy, but sometimes we slag each other off too much.
"We're actually holding ourselves back because of that. Ronan wants to play in matches whereby we produce the best of everything.
"Ronan knows how good Brian O'Driscoll is, yet he'll slag the face off him.
"He knows how good his team-mates are and he just wants that to come out on the pitch. I interpreted what he said as self reflection.
"There's a lot of financial uncertainty around, a bit of doom and gloom. There's a small bit of that about the team.
"You can never do without honesty. Sometimes we pussy foot around but life is what it is.
"Sometimes you want life to be sweet and rosy. It's great to be alive but sometimes you have to work through the difficult things."
O'Driscoll denied Ireland lack pride but the skipper agreed an invaluable lesson could be learned from Munster's agonising 18-16 defeat.
"Ronan was venting a bit of frustration. It hasn't really happened for us and that's not through a lack of effort," he said.
"Last weekend we were beaten by the better team but pride isn't the issue.
"The Munster performance showed that if you want it enough, irrespective of skill levels or reputation, you can go after a team.
"We have to adapt a bit of that mindset and go after Argentina.
"I share a little of Ronan's frustration but there is a fine line in getting things right in international rugby."
AFP
