Indigenous All Stars coach Michael O’Loughlin says his team’s all-night party in an Ireland hotel was less rowdy than bonding sessions held by previous international rules teams.
Outclassed by Ireland in Cavan on Saturday night losing 57-35, the All Stars – minus Lance Franklin who has flown home to Australia to attend a wedding – went to a nightclub in Limerick the following evening.
It has been reported some players continued to party in a room at the Dromoland Castle until 5am on Monday morning when hotel staff twice asked them to turn the music down.
“I have been on Australian tours where there has been a lot more than what we have done,” O’Loughlin said of the partying.
“It’s one of those things that you are trying to get the group together as quickly as possible. You get them into those bonding sessions and what not but it’s been far from a holiday.”
O’Loughlin savaged his players after they lost the first Test, claiming players’ ability to apply pressure was non-existent in the first half.
The All Stars must now win the second and final Test in Dublin on Saturday night (Sunday morning AEDT) by more than 23 points to win the series on aggregate.
“If you look at it, each individual, if they were to sit down and go through their tapes, they would be pretty embarrassed,” O’Loughlin said on Monday afternoon of the first Test .
“Some guys would be very, very embarrassed about their efforts.
“So we try to move on as quickly as possible and get them together and refocus because the last thing I want to do is get out there on Saturday and be embarrassed again.”