The Lions hierarchy are not taking Sean O'Brien's criticism lying down.
Speaking on Wednesday, O'Brien said that the Lions should have won the three Test series against New Zealand earlier this summer. The sides drew 1-1 after a dramatic final drawn Test match.
The first week, we definitely over trained, on the Thursday. Maybe the coaches were panicking about getting the information into us.
We did nearly the same thing on the last week. So maybe it's more of a coaches point of view for taking lesson. 'Less is more.'
O'Brien's criticisms of Warren Gatland and Rob Howley clearly struck a neve with the Lions board, and they released a statement, reaffirming their praise in the coaching staff led my Warren Gatland.
The statement was seen by Off the Ball. They quoted Lions CEO John Feehan who was behind the coaching staff.
I said all along that we had the best coaching team available and I think they proved that in what they achieved in New Zealand. To draw a series with the All Blacks who had not lost a Test match at home for eight years was a remarkable result. Warren and the coaches deserve huge credit for that.
People will always have their views on what could have been done better, but the fact is, against all odds, and with limited time preparation, the squad became only the second Lions team in history to either or draw a series in New Zealand in thirteen attempts. That achievement cannot be underestimated.
Having been on the tours to Australia in 2013 and New Zealand this summer, O'Brien is unlikely to travel to South Africa in four years time when he will be 34.
Either way, his comments have left the Lions reeling, months after their moral victory.
