A former Leinster player has taken aim at Irish rugby after two European disappointments over the weekend.
Ex-Leinster flyhalf Andy Dunne believes Irish rugby’s coaching philosophy is holding the country back.
Bordeaux Bègles thrashed Leinster 41-19 in Saturday’s Investec Champions Cup final, extending the Dublin giants’ title drought to seven years and handing them a fifth straight final defeat under coach Leo Cullen.
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Speaking to Off The Ball, Dunne claimed Irish sides have become too predictable in knockout rugby.
“To me, there’s a rigidity in Irish coaching,” he said.
“We will always work hard, we’ll always play possession rugby, but when it comes to knockout rugby everyone else has worked out that less possession, better kicking, disciplined defence, a good lineout and scrum is generally enough.”
Dunne said Bordeaux out-thought Leinster tactically despite their attacking flair.
“People will remember the flair of Bordeaux, but they kicked the ball 30 percent more than Leinster,” he said.
“Jalibert kicked it almost every time he got it in the second half.”
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The former flyhalf was also frustrated by Leinster repeatedly turning down kickable penalties in favour of attacking lineouts.
“That’s a repeat error in cup finals by the same group. That puzzles me,” he said.
The defeat capped a miserable European weekend for Ireland’s provinces after Ulster were hammered 59-26 by Montpellier in the Challenge Cup final.
Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images
The post ‘Rigid’ Ireland slammed after finals flop appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
A former Leinster player has taken aim at Irish rugby after two European disappointments over the weekend.
The post ‘Rigid’ Ireland slammed after finals flop appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
