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Kidney set for Irish post
28/04/2008 15:21 - (SA)
Dublin - Munster coach Declan Kidney looks set to be appointed Ireland boss on Tuesday according to the BBC.
Kidney had been one of the names originally in the mix for the post to replace Eddie O'Sullivan, who stepped down after seven years in the job following a disappointing Six Nations campaign coming on the back of an even worse World Cup where they went out in the first round.
Kidney, whose disagreements when Leinster coach with several of the backs who form the backbone of the Irish side had been seen as a negative point for him, enjoyed another great success at the weekend as he guided Munster to the European Cup final for the fourth time.
It is expected that Niall O'Donovan will lead a temporary coaching team for the Barbarians game on Tuesday, 27 May.
O'Donovan will cover for Kidney who will be preparing for the European Cup final on May 24.
Kidney's promotion to the Ireland job will be seen as a positive one - others considered were former All Blacks coach Wayne Smith and former Leicester handler Pat Howard - although some will remember his short-lived stint with Welsh region the Dragons and his subsequent move from Leinster back to Munster.
However, his record with Munster in Europe has singled him out as probably the best coach in the northern hemisphere - only Toulouse's Guy Noves has a better record having taken the French giants to three European titles.
The need for a coach to be installed quickly is vitally important as the International Rugby Board world rankings will be used for the first time to seed teams at the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.
With the draw for pool places to take place in December, Ireland have the two summer Tests - against the All Blacks and Australia - along with autumn internationals against Canada, New Zealand and Argentina - to improve their current lowly ranking of eighth.
The new system replaces the previous seeding process which was determined by a team's performances in the previous World Cup, which ended with Ireland crashing out in the first round after crushing defeats by hosts France and Argentina.
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