IT’S NOT OFTEN Declan Kidney uses words such as “incredulous” and “scandalous”, but this is how he referred to claims made by Tim Horan that Ireland had taken injury “time-outs” in a deliberate effort to disrupt the flow of the Australian team.

Horan, twice a World Cup winner with Australia, made the claims in the Sydney Daily Telegraph yesterday.

He said that Ireland’s assistant coach Alan Gaffney, a fellow Australian, had spoken to him in the dressing room after the game and confirmed that Ireland had “a deliberate plan to fake injuries each time there was a breakdown in play”.

Speaking at the team announcement for Sunday’s game against Russia in Rotarua, Kidney was visibly angered when Horan’s comments were brought up.

What I can tell you for definite is that the reporter in question (Horan) was never in the dressing room. 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.

Kidney, ordinarily the epitome of restraint and reserve, then went even further, saying “I think it’s incredulous and slightly scandalous that he would try to bring one of his own fellow countryman into something that is totally untrue.”

Horan: Ireland beat Wallabies by faking injuries

Leo takes the armband as Kidney rings changes for Russia clash

Expert view: Kidney should have played a completely new team