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Declan Kidney at a midweek press briefing on Ireland's tour to New Zealand. ©INPHO/Billy Stickland
Looking Back

Our summer tour to New Zealand with Declan Kidney

The three line-ups he named for the Tests against the All Blacks summed up the Corkman’s tenure.

THE TIMING OF a three-Test tour to face New Zealand, the World Cup winners nine months’ previous, was wretched but former Ireland coach Declan Kidney was targeting a win.

Naming a squad for the summer tour to the land of the All Blacks, last June, Kidney was forced to plan without Stephen Ferris, Paul O’Connell and Tommy Bowe.

The tour would be the 11th month of rugby for Irish players that had taken part in the World Cup and the preparation camps first held in late July of 2011.

Leinster members of the squad, such as Brian O’Driscoll and Cian Healy, had three days off following their Pro12 Final against Ospreys before reporting to Ireland camp and formulating a masterplan to pull off the rugby heist of the year.

I packed up one of TheScore.ie’s green microphones and shadowed the squad for the tour, from Auckland and Christchurch to Queenstown and Hamilton.

Ultimately, Ireland lost the series 3-0 but should have created history in between two bruising defeats.

Kidney’s team selections during the your perfectly reflected a man that has a reputation for being conservative but loves taking risks; a man accused of relying on the old guard while taking risks on greenhorns.

First Test: Exciting backline

Working primarily for online media, I filed team news for the Irish Mirror and had the opportunity for early morning sit-downs with Kidney and a small, print media troupe.

To make the deadline for Irish print editions, Kidney would greet us at 7am in the lobby of whatever hotel the team were residing at.

On 6 June, three days before the First Test at Eden Park, Kidney said ‘good morning’ to four tired journalists and bristled with glee as he read out his matchday 22:

Ireland: Kearney; McFadden, O’Driscoll (c), Earls, Zebo; Sexton, Murray; Healy, Best, Fitzpatrick, Tuohy, Ryan, O’Mahony, O’Brien, Heaslip.

His sense of excitement was clear to see and he revelled in selecting a starting XV that none of us had guessed at and a backline that screamed of attacking intent.

The former Munster coach has a tendency to reveal more to the print media, preferring discussions at close quarters to examinations under the glare of TV cameras and lights. He told us:

I know if we get everything 100% right we will win. If we get everything 90% right we’ll have a chance and if we get it 80% right it will be a long day at the office.”

42-10 was the final scoreline in Auckland as debutant winger Julian Savea had a field day [and a hat-trick of tries]. Fergus McFadden and Simon Zebo were positive in attack but defensively frail.

Rob Kearney tries to halt a charging Julian Savea. (©INPHO/Photosport/Andrew Cornaga)

Brian O’Driscoll, for the most part, operated at inside centre with 13 on his back. The only bright spots were the performances of Declan Fitzpatrick and Donnacha Ryan.

A Second Test in Christchurch was next up and the All Blacks would be keen to put on a show for a city devastated by a series of earthquakes that began in 2010 and have yet to cease.

Second Test: Leinster and Ulster core

The thought process of the majority of the travelling journalists now pointed towards a series whitewash and a mauling at Rugby League Park [AMI Stadium] in Christchurch.

Kidney’s team were lambasted in the local media for their failure to put up a fight at Eden Park. New Zealanders like to win but they prefer their rugby prey to have a pulse before striking.

Kidney speaking to the New Zealand media in the earthquake ‘red zone’ in Christchurch. (©INPHO/Billy Stickland)

The coach’s team selection for the Second Test contained 13 Leinster and Ulster players that had contested the Heineken Cup Final just four weeks beforehand.

Ireland: Kearney; McFadden, O’Driscoll (c), D’Arcy, Trimble; Sexton, Murray; Healy, Best, Ross, Tuohy, Ryan, McLaughlin, O’Brien, Heaslip.

The safe bet looked to be an inspired one and Conor Murray, who had come in for pre-match criticism for dawdling distribution, was superb, scoring his first international try.

Ireland led 10-3 in the first-half and Jonathan Sexton had a penalty in the final quarter that would have put his side 22-19 ahead against 14 All Blacks [Israel Dagg was sin-binned].

Poor refereeing and a second-time-lucky drop goal from Dan Carter in the final minute clinched an unlikely 22-19 win for the home side.

Third Test: Paddy from Portugal

Mood in the Irish camp was surprisingly high on the final week of the tour, no doubt helped by the stunning surrounds of their hosts in Queenstown.

The team would be without the services of the injured Jamie Heaslip and soon-to-be-married inside centre Gordon D’Arcy for the Third Test.

Fergus McFadden and Darren Cave could play centre, Keith Earls could shift back in from the left wing or, as some assumed, Jonathan Sexton would drop back to 12 and Ronan O’Gara would come in as outhalf.

Kidney got on the phone to Paddy Wallace, who was on a family holiday in Portugal, and requested his experienced presence. He would start in the centre against an All Black midfield axis of Conrad Smith and Sonny Bill Williams.

Ireland: Kearney; McFadden, O’Driscoll (c), Wallace, Earls; Sexton, Murray; Healy, Best, Ross; Tuohy, Ryan; McLaughlin, O’Brien, O’Mahony.

The Wallace call-up was a complete failure but the Ulsterman is often unfairly singled out as the main reason for defeat. Rob Kearney was reckless in a challenge that earned him a yellow card, Dan Tuohy looked out of his depth, Keith Earls was brushed aside by fend-offs and Brian O’Driscoll had a poor game.

The 60-0 scoreline led to an inevitable, post-match question about Kidney’s future as head coach.

He bristled at the suggestion before declaring it was an honour to serve his country in the role.

The IRFU terminated his services three months shot of his contracted time. However, while he was far from flawless, our Grand Slam-winning coach toured to the home of the All Blacks at the end of a gruelling season and sent his men out to win.

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