WARREN GATLAND HAS hit back at Sean O’Brien for leveling criticism at the Lions’ summer tour of New Zealand, labeling the comments as disrespectful and lacking credibility.
The Lions drew the 2017 series with the All Blacks following a dramatic 15-15 third test at Eden Park, however Leinster back-row O’Brien said he believed the Lions could have won the series 3-0.
Speaking with the Daily Mail this week, head coach Gatland said O’Brien’s injury record was “ironic” and that his comments meant he had lost credibility in his eyes.
“I was disappointed with his comments,” said Gatland. “I thought him coming out and saying we should have won 3-0 was pretty disrespectful to New Zealand. That’s where he lost his credibility.
“He came out and he was critical but what was his solution? There was nothing. It was words without a solution. If you are going to come out and say something, give us what the answer is.
“When I spoke to Sean last week I said the ironic thing was that he came to us injured at the start of the tour and his injury record over the last number of years has been pretty abysmal in terms of getting a string of games together.
“I reminded him that in his interview, he said he was in the best shape of his life during the Tests so we must have done something right surely. And he said: ‘I never thought of that.’”
Speaking in September O’Brien said the Lions could have won the tour and also leveled criticism at coaching methods which resulted in them sharing honours with the All Blacks.
O’Brien said: “I think we should have won 3-0 with the players we had, we should have won the series.
“And, looking back, and I could be completely wrong, but if we had a little more structure during the weeks, and more of an attack game plan, as such, driven way earlier in the tour, I think we could win 3-0.
“If I was being critical of any coach it would be the fact that I think Rob (Howley) struggled with the group in terms of his attributes of trying to get stuff across.”
Wales assistant Howley said this week that he had accepted an apology from O’Brien having spoken to the player over the phone.
The 47-year-old said he does not intend to take over from Gatland as head coach, with the New Zealander hinting that he could remain and lead the side on their 2021 tour of South Africa.
“It’s a hard job to turn down and walk away from,” Gatland said.
“I made those comments about not wanting to do it again because I was pretty hurt. As far as me coaching the Lions again, never say never.”
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