YESTERDAY TIM HORAN found himself on the end of uncharacteristically angry comments from Ireland coach Declan Kidney.
But this morning the Wallabies legend insists he hasn’t done anything wrong.
Horan is adamant that the source behind his claim of Ireland ‘faking injuries’ at Eden Park last Saturday is indeed Ireland backs coach Alan Gaffney.
The Aussie great sparked controversy during the past week when he alleged in a newspaper column that Gaffney informed him Ireland feigned injuries during the 15-6 victory.
Kidney was said to be visibly angry during yesterday’s routine Ireland press conference and labelled the allegations as “incredulous and slightly scandalous”.
“After the game I went down, just outside the dressing rooms and onto the field and Alan Gaffney was there,” Horan said on the Fox Sports Rugby World Cup Centre show in Australia however.
“I know Alan Gaffney very well, we were Wallabies selectors together. I had a great chat to him, applauding him for the tactics that they used. I thought they were wonderful tactics in the conditions.
“I definitely spoke to him. Gaffney’s a lovely bloke and I didn’t want to drag him into this.”
Speaking at Friday’s team announcement, Kidney was furious that his staff member had been implicated.
“What I can tell your for definite is that the reporter in question (Horan) was never in the dressing room,” said Kidney. “The coach in question (Gaffney) never spoke to him, so I’ll let you make your own inferences into how he feels he can quote something that was never said.
“It’s incredulous and slightly scandalous that he’d try to bring one of his fellow countrymen into something that is totally untrue. It’s for other people to have their standards in life.”
Earlier in the day, Horan tweeted a supposed clarification: “To all Irish supporters… Ireland deserved to win, played a great game plan. Hope the Irish make the final.”
