NO MATTER HOW often Irish players step forward to plead ‘mea culpa’, the questions over Declan Kidney’s future remain.
Two defeats have followed a thundering start, and shuddering finish, against Wales and the only result that looks likely to buy Kidney some time would be a flaying of France at Lansdowne Road.
The Irish coach fielded six direct questions on his future in the job at today’s press conference at Carton House.
Kidney stuck to a line about focusing solely on the next game, one that he first told RTE after the 12-8 loss to Scotland.
If his focus is truly blinkered in dedication, he must be the only rugby-loving Irish person not to ponder who will be coaching Ireland later this year.
Kidney lamented the fact that Ireland only took one scoring opportunity out of the ‘eight or nine’ created against the Scots, a result he called the most disappointing in his coaching tenure.
Only concern
Asked if the two defeats had done irreparable damage to his hopes for a new contract, Kidney responded, “I haven’t been thinking about it really. My only concern is to help this team do as well as they can do.
“That’s my whole reason for doing so. We have another match in 10 days time; that’s all I’m concentrating on.”
Kidney, not for the first time in his tenure, answered a question about injuries by stating that he did not wish to focus on them. He then talked about injuries.
The Corkman pointed out, “Usually you would work off a 10 or 15% injury rate. We’re up around 45% at the moment. It’s an opportunity for other lads to come in.”
Simon Zebo is one of a swathe of injured Irish players. (©INPHO/Dan Sheridan)
Asked if he wanted to stay on, Kidney said, “I’m just looking upon it as the next match. That’s the way that I’m going to keep doing it. That’s the way I’ve done it from the start.
Obviously there are huge highs and lows with this job. Last Sunday was a big low. Especially the frustration where you create so much and knowing how hard [the players] worked to get into those positions.”
Kidney is aware that there is a sense of frustration felt by Irish rugby supporters but added that he had not sought out any newspapers since the weekend loss.
Pressed about his assertions of being purely focused on the upcoming match against France, Kidney was not for shifting.
He said, “I haven’t been talking about it, I’m just thinking about the next time. I’m thinking about the next game.”
