Kidney dismisses 'cheat' claims by Australian journalist

Ireland coach Declan Kidney has dismissed claims that his team used negative tactics and faked injuries to achieve their 15-6 World Cup win over Australia at Eden Park last weekend.

The allegations were made by ex-Australian test player Tim Horan in his column in the Australian Telegraph newspaper.

“Ireland had a deliberate plan to fake injuries each time there was a breakdown in play last Saturday, so they could slow the game down and frustrate the Wallabies,” said Horan in his article this morning.

Horan, who played against Ireland in the 1999 World Cup, went on to explain how he came to his conclusion about Ireland’s supposed negative game-plan against the Wallabies: “How can I be sure? By talking to Irish assistant coach Alan Gaffney in the dressing rooms afterwards.”

Kidney responded strongly to Horan’s claims at today’s Irish press conference at the team hotel in Rotorua.

“What I can tell you for definite is that the reporter (Horan) in question was never in the dressing room, and that the coach in question never spoke him,” Kidney stressed.

“I don’t know how he feels he can quote something that was never said.

"I think it's incredulous, and slightly scandalous that he would try and bring one of his fellow countrymen (Gaffney) into something that is just totally untrue."