Declan Kidney today defended Ronan O'Gara's honesty after the outhalf suggested Ireland lacked unity in defeat to the All Blacks last week, but captain Brian O'Driscoll insists "pride isn't the issue" ahead of the visit of Argentina to Croke Park.
After watching a largely second-string Munster side push the All Blacks all the way on Tuesday, O'Gara urged team-mates to start "buying into the Irish jersey a little more" and to "play as a team and for each other".
His comments were perceived by some as a slight on his fellow internationals but his coach described it as honest assessment and "self reflection" after the demoralising 22-3 defeat to New Zealand.
"I've known Ronan a long time and sometimes he just blurts out his honesty," said Kidney after the Captain's Run at Croke Park this morning, "it's his own inner frustration. The lads are innately honest.
"Ireland is a brilliant place to live and slagging each other off is an innate part of it that we all enjoy, but sometimes we slag each other off too much.
"We're actually holding ourselves back because of that. Ronan wants to play in matches whereby we produce the best of everything.
"Ronan knows how good Brian O'Driscoll is, yet he'll slag the face off him.
"He knows how good his team-mates are and he just wants that to come out on the pitch. I interpreted what he said as self reflection.
"You can never do without honesty. Sometimes we pussy foot around but life is what it is," said Kidney. "Sometimes you want life to be sweet and rosy. It's great to be alive but sometimes you have to work through the difficult things."
O'Driscoll, however, denied a lack of pride but agreed a lesson can be learned from Munster's 18-16 defeat. "Ronan was venting a bit of frustration. It hasn't really happened for us and that's not through a lack of effort. Last weekend we were beaten by the better team but pride isn't the issue.
"The Munster performance showed that if you want it enough, irrespective of skill levels or reputation, you can go after a team.
"We have to adapt a bit of that mindset and go after Argentina," he added. "I share a little of Ronan's frustration but there is a fine line in getting things right in international rugby."
Defeat by the Pumas would drop Ireland to ninth in the International Rugby Board rankings, condemning them to another 'group of death' containing two major nations.
Argentina have the motivation of strengthening their grip on fourth place tomorrow, improving their chances of being included among the top seeds.
"This fixture seems to have turned into a grudge match and every time we play them there seems to be something at stake," said the captain. "Usually these November series are 'friendly' games, for want of a better word, but given what's at stake there's going to be very little friendliness tomorrow.
"It's been a bit tit for tat over the years - we've taken scalps, they've taken scalps.
"They're always close, hard game and you take great satisfaction from beating teams like Argentina."
Kidney will find out later today whether backrow Alan Quinlan has won his appeal against a three-week suspension for stamping against the All Blacks. If successful, the backrow will take his place on the bench with Stephen Ferris starting on the blindside.
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