Rugby:Ireland manager Declan Kidney has described criticism of the IRFU's medical team as "overly harsh" and insisted the situation is "no different now to any time before".
Kidney is currently preparing his side for the autumn international series which will see South Africa, Samoa, New Zealand and Argentina visit Dublin.
“I have an excellent medical staff and I could not speak highly enough of them,” said the manager. “I go to them myself if there is anything wrong and that is the highest compliment I can pay them. I know the care they have given (the players).”
“There is some erroneous stuff out there. We have no more injuries than any other international team at the moment. They all have an injury list. It's part and parcel of the game because the game is so position specific.
“That is why we need the panel that we have. We have about 35 guys in camp this week and we have 45 or 50 guys identified now that we are happy to call on at any stage.
"You need about three guys to be able to cover every position so that when bangs and knocks occur there are always players ready to step in," he told RTE Radio in an interview with Damien O'Meara to be broadcast on Sunday Sport.
“When people have misinformation, or only small bits of information, things can be said that are well wide of the mark. We have always had injuries. They are part and parcel of the sport and you can sit around and complain about them or get on with the job. Someone has decided, for whatever reason, to highlight one or two things now, but it is actually no different now to any time before.”
Earlier this week, Irish Times Rugby Correspondent Gerry Thornleyhighlighted a catalogue of injuries and long recovery periods for key Irish players.
The Irish squad has dispersed for the weekend with captain Brian O’Driscoll and Munster centre Keith Earls the main injury concerns ahead of the visit of the Springboks to the Aviva Stadium on Saturday week.