I understand wanting to defend himself, and he's right in some regards - Sutcliffe in 2016 was the hope at 6 for example.
But some poor signings should never have been made, particularly the overseas duds. We should never have gone near Falloon and Galloway was the dictionary definition of a plodder, not an adequate replacement for Peacock or Leuluai. As for Tui...
If he was honest he'd also admit junior development has utterly failed as well.
He must have realised at some stage that the squad needed major surgery just like it did when he arrived in 97. Maybe he found it easier to see someone else's squad was rubbish than the one he put together?