Donncha O’Callaghan has criticised Leinster’s methods, and its ramifications for the July Checks in South Africa, after the Irish membership’s URC semi-final defeat to the Vodacom Bulls.
Jake White’s prices claimed a 25-20 victory over a star-studded Leinster outfit at Loftus Versfeld final week, and can host a remaining for the primary time within the URC after they face the Glasgow Warriors in Pretoria on Saturday.
The world champions Springboks will cross swords with Six Nations title-holders Eire in back-to-back Checks subsequent month, and talking on RTE, O’Callaghan argued that Leinster’s loss highlighted deeper points inside Irish rugby.
The previous Eire lock identified that Leo Cullen’s technique of rotating 50 gamers and shielding stars from journey has backfired. He additionally criticised Leinster’s blunt assault, blaming the administration for not fostering a cohesive and decisive play type.
“They’ve acquired it improper; they’ve acquired it improper once more,” the 98-Check O’Callaghan mentioned.
“It’s good utilizing 50 gamers however in the case of cup remaining rugby, you must win it – and you must have a staff.
“And we noticed this staff, star-studded with internationals, they usually had been misplaced on the street as a result of they’re not used to doing it.
“So, that could be a flaw from administration. I wouldn’t fault these gamers; they may all the time exit and provides it their all – to be truthful to them – however they haven’t had any expertise in that [away games].
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“With the Irish mannequin, we need to shield them however typically it’s almost an excessive amount of.”
He warned that this lack of accountability and publicity to powerful circumstances would damage Irish rugby.
“Leinster have been let off over the previous few years. They’re one of many best-resourced groups, not solely in membership rugby however in world rugby, they usually simply haven’t delivered,” O’Callaghan mentioned.
“Individuals go away them off. Media go away them off. They have to be held accountable, not only for this efficiency, however for his or her performances during the last whereas.
“That might be damaging for Irish rugby. The entire of South Africa goes to leap up and say, ‘Look what our Bulls staff did to this nationwide staff’. We’re going to pay the value on the summer season [July] tour.
“From a Leinster viewpoint, a completely horrible efficiency, horrible outcome and one that ought to actually shake the foundations.”
Photograph: Gordon Arons/Gallo Photographs
