Donnacha O’Callaghan ashamed by Ireland’s performance against Scotland

Calls grow for Irish Rugby Football Union to sack coach Declan Kidney after latest loss

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Irish rugby player Donnacha O'Callaghan

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Ireland lock Donnacha O’Callaghan has admitted he feels ‘a bit ashamed’ by Sunday’s shocking defeat to Scotland as coach Declan Kidney fights for his future.

The IRFU have yet to make any statement on Kidney’s role in the wake of the 12-8 defeat at Murrayfield that killed Ireland’s feint title hopes.

Kidney is out of contract in the summer and calls are growing for the IRFU to sack the former schoolteacher before the game against France in Dublin on Saturday week.

Ireland, beaten by England and Scotland already this season, could even finish bottom of the table after their Edinburgh embarrassment.

Munster star O’Callaghan admitted: “This will dent our confidence and we must be honest with each other. It wasn’t good enough by us. We’re not at Test level to learn, but to win.

“You can look around at other people, but it’s man-in-the-mirror time. No fingers are being pointed. That first win in Cardiff does feel like a long time ago.

“Playing for your country is special but you need to get results. You need that buzz, but this feeling is horrible.

“You feel like you’ve let everyone down and that’s the worst part. You’re a bit ashamed and that’s the way the players were in the dressing room.

“No one was eyeballing each other, everyone’s just scurrying around the place. It’s a horrible way to spend the next few weeks.”

France, beaten by Italy and England this season, won’t take prisoners when they travel to Dublin on Saturday week.

O’Callaghan added: “It’s a hard defeat to take, a hugely disappointing one. We’re gutted and feel a bit empty.

“When you have that much territory and possession, you have to come away with more. But we were confident at half-time that we’d knocked some of the wind out of them.

“When winning moments are there you have to be good enough to take them, but we came up short in that.

“We can take pride in our defence. We could have stayed out there all day and they wouldn’t have scored a try.

“It’s a hollow feeling because we implemented our game plan without getting any reward, which is down to the players because sometimes you have to find a way.

“We badly need a result and to get to the Aviva Stadium. We need to get home and find what we need.”

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