YOU COULD ARGUE whether it was right or wrong to get rid of Declan Kidney, one way or another, but I was glad the IRFU did not string him along.
The decision to end his contract was best done sooner rather than later as it gives the guys left — Les Kiss, Anthony Foley and Gert Smal — a chance to ease into the summer tour.
It will not be a case of the games against the US or Canada being walkovers but the pressure and intensity will not be as severe. I felt it was a little unfair that he was not kept on. The season that was handed to him, with the string of injuries, was tough.
To judge him on that was a little bit harsh. There was a lot in the media that felt his time was up and that, combined with the results, told.
Rugby, and being a coach, can be very fickle. Everything can change on the basis of one or two games. They went from the unstoppable, against Wales, to the unfortunate.
People have asked me if I’d like to get into coaching. Right now I’d have to say it is not something my heart could take.
Hands tied
Kidney was probably guided into a couple of decisions and found his hands tied as the Six Nations progressed. If you look back at the Autumn Series, Brian O’Driscoll was injured and Ireland had to look for a captain. Rob Kearney was injured and Rory Best was fighting it out for the starting hooker role with Richardt Strauss.
They went with Jamie Heaslip and, to be fair to him, he did a good job leading a lot of younger players. If Drico wasn’t going to be around for the World Cup, or next season, to take the captaincy off Heaslip would have diminished his role in the team and as a player.
You have to remember, in Brian’s early days he had to grow into the captaincy role. Sometimes, at the start, there were a lot of questions about whether he was the right guy to lead his country. They had to show him consistency and it paid off.
In this together: Declan Kidney and Jamie Heaslip. (Pic: INPHO/Billy Stickland)
Similar to the Heaslip decision, once they had started with Paddy Jackson, against Scotland, they couldn’t back-track for the France game. His confidence would have taken a big hit. Kidney’s hands were tied somewhat. Looking back on that Scotland game, the coach has to get his team into the right positions to score. It’s up to his players to have the skill to finish the chances off. They fell down on that and individual errors cost them.
Filling the role
I was lucky to be coached, at Munster then Ireland, by Kidney for most of my career. He created a great environment and you felt like you wanted to play, and win, for him. Conor O’Shea would be great in the role of head coach and Joe Schmidt is a good option but I don’t know if they will be candidates. As far as I know, Schmidt will be heading back to New Zealand in a year or so.
Les Kiss is certainly in with a shout for the top job. From my dealings with him, I must say he is an excellent coach.
When he was our defence coach, you would come out of your team meetings full of confidence. Even at half-time, in the dressing room, he would give you some great technical points and positivity.
I only dealt with him as an assistant coach but the head role is altogether different. He’ll have the task of selections, keeping everyone happy, creating consistency and a good vibe in the camp.
Until you put him in the role it would be difficult to call it either way for him but he definitely has the talent and right credentials for the job.
David Wallace runs Mr Simms Olde Sweet Shoppe at the Crescent Shopping Centre in Dooradoyle, Limerick. You can follow the latest goings on at the shop here or on Twitter @MrSimmsCrescent
