A number of high profile Ireland internationals - past and present - have been queueing up to criticise Anthony Eddy.
The IRFU's director of women's and sevens rugby is under increasing pressure following comments made to the media earlier this week.
Eddy told RTÉ Sport that it was "incorrect" to suggest the women's 15's game had been neglected in favour of the sevens.
"Both programs have had a lot of resources from the IRFU thrown at them in recent years," Eddy added.T
"There were nine fully-contracted players representing Ireland at Parma at the World Cup qualification process. There are three full-time IRFU staff coaching that programme with Adam [Griggs] and Steve [McGinnis] and Kieran [Hallett].
I was speechless this morning reading Anthony Eddy's comments on the women's game. @cmoloney3 sums it up nicely! Sticking your head above the parapet takes guts 👊 https://t.co/hIbo5VhWNN
— Ailis Mardon-Egan (@AilisEgan) November 9, 2021
"I don't think either program has been favoured, because of our small playing number and small talent pool we have to share resources across both programs.
"People think one program is being favoured over another, I would clearly say they're wrong."
Following their World Cup qualifier disappointment in Italy, the IRFU announced a root and branch review into the women's game, to be headed-up by former Wales international Amanda Bennett.
Bennett will lead a review into the Ireland team's preparation, participation and performance around Rugby World Cup qualification.
The findings of that review will feed - the IRFU say - into a broader stocktaking of the women's game in the country.
"The team was well prepared," contended Eddy on Monday, "I don't want to contaminate any findings from the review that's in place at the moment either, but I know the girls, the coaching staff, the girls themselves are disappointed not to have qualified and disappointed in their performances."
However, Eddy's comments have gone down like a lead balloon with both current and former Ireland players.
Recently retired former Ireland captain Claire Molloy retweeted a link to an article about Eddy, saying, "Truly disheartening and disappointing read for everyone involved in women's rugby in Ireland. Where is the accountability? Oh sorry, that's for players alone to bear."
Truly disheartening and disappointing read for everyone involved in women's rugby in Ireland. Where is the accountability? Oh sorry, that's for players alone to bear 🙄 https://t.co/m2jpDcwNaZ
— Claire molloy (@claire_mol) November 9, 2021
Current Ireland hooker Cliodhna Moloney added, "I could have sworn slurry spreading season was spring… I stand corrected."
While she hasn't tweeted herself, veteran Ireland prop Lindsay Peat has retweeted several tweets critical of Eddy.
Former centre Jenny Murphy described the Australian's views as "spineless", tweeting, "I honestly wish I was more surprised at this take from Eddy but I'm not.
"Is this the voice of someone who cares about the women's game in this country? Utterly deflating and I can only imagine what current players are feeling."
We played 7’s back under IWFRU. When we amalgamated we were told we weren’t allowed go to Euro 7’s anymore because IRFU didn’t support the 7’s game ……Fast fwd to Olympic funding
— Grace Davitt (@GraceDavitt) November 9, 2021
Grand Slam-winner Grace Davitt was another vocal former Ireland player on Twitter, mimicking Eddy's words, "'I don’t want to contaminate the report', while I go on and blame the girls and the sure they know themselves attitude!!"
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