Irish writers leave players cold

Rift between Irish writers and players in New Zealand

Ireland's players and journalists have fallen out after the players reacted angrily to coverage of their defeat to New Zealand in Hamilton last weekend.

Several players boycotted journalist David Kelly as a result of his criticism of the team's performance last weekend – also claiming that this was not the first time they were unhappy with Kelly's coverage.

Kelly, who writes for the Irish Independent, was told that nobody in the team would speak to him, and that he would be excluded from access to media day quotes and interviews.

The journalists took this as a form of censorship, and immediately stood up to support Kelly – although radio journalists kept working.

As a response, the print journalists failed to turn up for several pre-arranged one-to-one interviews on Wednesday.

Journalists have also been supported in the matter by their respective sports editors, and although attempts have been made to call a truce, little progress has been made – the players are said to have refused to meet to try and sort out the problem.

Kelly was battering in his criticism of several players after the game, as well as Eddie O'Sullivan's man-management of the team. Ronan O'Gara and Geordan Murphy bore the brunt of the negative comments, and Kelly was furious that nobody had been brought on to replace them earlier in the game.