VETERAN BROADCASTER GEORGE Hook has launched another blistering attack on journalist and fellow RTÉ Sport pundit, Eamon Dunphy.
Hook criticised Dunphy on The Late Late Show last month, after the latter had previously described Ireland as “a dump,” saying that “this country gave him a bloody good living”.
And now, in an interview with The University Observer, Hook has elaborated on his contempt for Dunphy, saying:
“I dislike him more than any other human being on the planet. He criticises managers, he’s never managed; he criticises coaches, he’s never coached; he’s criticised administrators, he’s never administrated.“He’s played twenty-three times for Ireland. Have I ever played for Ireland? No, but I’ve coached in the Rugby World Cup.”
He also had some harsh words for Brian O’Driscoll.
While acknowledging his prowess, Hook also described O’Driscoll as “an average captain,” and added:
“He [O’Driscoll] reads the paper every day, he listens to the radio, and it says ‘Brian O’Driscoll you’re wonderful’, and then there’s this curmudgeon who says maybe you’re not wonderful, maybe you’re not perfect. Understandably, he’s not happy.”
He added:
“All the players would prefer to have players in the panel, because they get an easier ride. No near current player will criticise any of the players they played with.”
And on a lighter note, Hook said that his “perfect departure from this earthly coil would be to give Tom McGurk a box live on television, then keel over dead”.
The 70-year-old has been a full-time member of RTÉ’s rugby panel since 2000, and claims he has no plans to retire in the immediate future.
