Former Ireland head coach Eddie O’Sullivan has said that there are so many contradictions around Felix Jones’ and Jerry Flannery’s imminent departures from Munster Rugby.
Munster Rugby and the IRFU confirmed earlier this month that Jerry Flannery and Felix Jones will leave the province at the end of the season with both men declining their respective contract offers.
O’Sullivan said that Jones and Flannery should be made offers they can’t refuse, rather than an offers they can’t accept, and noted that this is far from a perfect situation with Munster’s season on the line.
“It’s full of contradictions the whole thing, it’s like a bad mini-series,” O’Sullivan said on eir Sport.
“Van Graan said a month ago that there might be a new attack coach coming in and that lit the fuse on this whole thing. Then Van Graan said this week that they’re fantastic coaches and magnificent Munster men, then why not make them an offer they can’t refuse rather than an offer they can’t accept.
“There’s a lot of illogical things here and how this whole thing has played out with Munster trying to rescue a season is far from perfect.”
Former Munster and Ireland second-row Donncha O’Callaghan agreed with O’Sullivan and said that the timing of their departures is not ideal.
“It’s been really disappointing with Felix and Jerry,” added O’Callaghan.
“These are things that you don’t want to go on at the pinnacle end of the season, the most important part, and you couldn’t question either of these two lads, they’re Munster men to the core. Both on field and off field they’ve given every ounce to it and maybe there comes a time with two guys where it’s not right for them.”
"You couldn't question either of these two lads, they are Munster to the core"@docallaghan4 says now is not the time for Munster to be announcing changes to their coaching staff. #GuinnessPRO14 pic.twitter.com/cdh2gHfe5R
— eir Sport (@eirSport) May 18, 2019
