Tim Horan is adamant that the source behind his claim of Irish subterfuge at Eden Park last Saturday is Ireland backs coach Alan Gaffney.
Wallaby great Horan alleged in a newspaper column that Gaffney informed him Ireland feigned injuries during the historic 15-6 victory over Australia.
Ireland head coach Declan Kidney yesterday branded the allegations as "incredulous and slightly scandalous".
But Horan, who won 80 caps for Australia between 1989 and 2000, is standing by the comments.
"After the game I went down, just outside the dressing rooms and onto the field and Alan Gaffney was there," Horan said.
"I know Alan Gaffney very well, we were Wallaby selectors together.
"I had a great chat to him, applauding him for the tactics that they used. I thought they were wonderful tactics in the conditions.
"I definitely spoke to him. Gaffney's a lovely bloke and I didn't want to drag him into this."
Ireland defence coach Les Kiss today denied the existence of a deliberate plan to take the momentum out of Australia's game.
"Feigning injuries is an alien concept since I've been involved in the Ireland set-up. It's not something we're about," he said.
"If you call teams going down at a scrum every now and again slowing the game down then every side in the world is at fault. It happens everywhere.
"Certainly slowing down the game in that way is not at the forefront of any strategy we have.
"As far as I'm concerned I know that Alan Gaffney didn't talk to Tim."
Speaking at yesterday's team announcement, Kidney was furious that Gaffney had been implicated.
"What I can tell you for definite is that the reporter in question (Horan) was never in the dressing room," said Kidney.
"The coach in question (Gaffney) never spoke to him, so I'll let you make your own inferences into how he feels he can quote something that was never said.
"It's incredulous and slightly scandalous that he'd try to bring one of his fellow countrymen into something that is totally untrue.
"It's for other people to have their standards in life."
Horan left no doubt over the source of his information in his column.
"Ireland had a deliberate plan to fake injuries each time there was a breakdown in play so they could slow the game down and frustrate the Wallabies," said Horan.
"How can I be sure? By talking to Irish assistant coach Alan Gaffney in the dressing rooms afterwards."
Horan criticised referee Bryce Lawrence and stated he should not officiate another match at the World Cup, but admitted "Ireland deserved to win and always would have won".
Ireland face Russia at Rotorua International Stadium early tomorrow morning in their penultimate Pool C match.
