LEINSTER SCRUM-HALF EOIN Reddan maintains that he and his provincial team-mates must shoulder the blame for the results that culminated in Matt O’Connor’s ousting from the role of head coach.
The Australian’s contract was ended last week after season which went from disappointment to disappointment in the Pro12.
“We were obviously a bit surprised,” Reddan said after he was named in an Ireland squad to face the Barbarians this week.
“The criticism was always levelled at the group. And, as a whole, we didn’t perform well enough.”
The Limerick man added: “In a team environment, you don’t come off the pitch thinking you let the whole team down, but as a group you win and lose together.
“That was the way with Matt in the dressing room this year: when we won, he was part of that. When we lost, he also lost with us. As a group we were on that journey and it ended after the last game against Edinburgh.”
“It’s very hard for an organisation to come in and, how do they rectify that? On this occasion they chose to change Matt. As a group, players are still looking at themselves and feeling that we could have done much more for Matt and that’s certainly the way we’ll be feeling.
“At the same time we have to get our heads around it quickly — we have to get on with what we have to do; train and prepare for what comes next season.
“Obviously it’s not a nice situation. Like if a player leaves, no one likes to see it happen, but that’s the way it went. It’s very tough, Matt’s a great guy and had lots and lots of friends in the squad so none of us like to see that happen.”
