No-nonsense ‘Slatts’ slates Whitaker and Kearney

TWO key pillars of Michael Cheika’s Heineken Cup-chasing Leinster squad have come in for stinging criticism from one of their most famous past players.

Fergus Slattery adorned the 1970s and 80s with his no-nonsense, uncompromising style of flank forward play, and last night the 1982 Triple Crown-winner didn’t hold back in his appraisal of both scrum-half, Chris Whitaker, and 2009 Lion, Rob Kearney, describing the latter as “a bit of a mirage”.

Kearney is sidelined with the mumps and will miss Saturday’s Heineken Cup semi-final against Munster, but the full-back didn’t escape censure from Slattery, while the Dublin auctioneer remains “gobsmacked” Whitaker still retains the No 9 shirt.