D’ARCY BACKS CRITICISM OF THE LIONS COACHES

FORMER Lions and Ireland star Gordon D’Arcy has backed Sean O’Brien’s criticism of the coaching methods of Warren Gatland and Rob Howley in New Zealand this summer and claims we haven’t heard the last of the matter.

D’Arcy waded into the O’Brien debate in a column for an Irish newspaper, arguing the ‘Welsh’ approach to the tour demonstrates a clear divide to the Test preparations of Ireland and England under Joe Schmidt and Eddie Jones.

O’Brien shocked the rugby world by saying the heavy training workload imposed on the players by Gatland cost the Lions victory over the world champions. He also criticised Howley, saying it was left to Johnny Sexton and Owen Farrell to lead the Lions’ back game plan.

Writing in the Irish Times, D’Arcy who was capped 82 times by Ireland as well as making a Test appearance for the 2005 Lions in New Zealand, said: “I think more context supporting O’Brien’s comments will arrive in due course.

“But if a player genuinely feels they could have been better prepared surely there’s an onus on him to say so. I can picture myself in Seanie’s skin.

“The Lions took a Welsh approach. That’s how it appears, what with a Welsh head coach, attack coach and captain. So I suspect the Welsh players on tour will come out in defence of the methodology – they have to really – in the same way the Irish and English return to Carton House and Pennyhill happily embracing the ways of Joe and Eddie. Especially after seeing the alternative.

“The widely held belief that this great Lions achievement – and drawing a Test series in New Zealand is just that – was masterminded by Warren Gatland and Rob Howley will always have the Tullow Tank asterisk beside it.

“That’s right and proper because it appears like the players needed to take control in key areas when messaging from above was unclear.”

“There will always remain a ‘what if Eddie Jones or Joe Schmidt were at the helm?’

“Camps with Ireland since 2013, and I strongly presume the same with Eddie Jones’s England, are the equivalent of tutorials from the MIT of rugby. Seanie O’Brien comes from that environment. Along with seven other forwards, 48 hours before a Test match he knew he was on his feet too long. That something similar reoccurred a fortnight later is unforgivable management of resources in his mind.

“So he said as much. Everything Seanie said to the media last week he said to Warren Gatland at the time. This team was on the cusp of one of the great achievements in the history of sport. They fell short partly because the players were tired when they should have been as fresh as circumstances allowed. That would drive me insane.”