Thursday, May 08, 2008
INEVITABILITY turned reality yesterday when the IRFU officially confirmed Declan Kidney’s appointment as Ireland’s head coach.
For a man actively involved in coaching since his early 20s, this elevation is richly deserved and fulfils a long-held ambition.
Declan and I go back a long way, to 1976 in fact, when we played together on the Munster school side. As I was captain and he was the out-half we had tactical discussions, albeit of a very limited nature. We both agreed our best option was to kick, it was only a question of how far and how often. He has progressed a long way since those limited strategy meetings 32 years ago.
As a commerce student in UCC, Kidney spent much of his spare time at his Alma Mater in PBC where he helped coach the school’s underage sides. While his playing career with UCC and Dolphin stretched over a decade, I’m sure he will take it on the chin when I say that he has made a more lasting impression as a coach.
To this day I still remind him of the contributions he made to my trophy cabinet. Kidney was captain of a UCC U20 Cup winning side of which I was a member but we were in opposition in one of those famous CBC v PBC Cup finals in the 1970’s which Christians managed to pinch at the death.
Always the innovator, Kidney threw a quick lineout to himself yards from the Pres line with time running out in a tight game. Unfortunately caught in possession, Christians scored the winning try from the resultant turnover and Kidney bore the abuse.
When Dougie Howlett twice took quick five metre throws to himself in his debut game against Clermont Auvergne last January, causing palpitations within Munster’s playing and supporting ranks, my mind strayed back to that incident in 1977. I was quick to remind the new Irish coach that he was clearly having an undue tactical influence on Munster’s latest All Black signing.
Thankfully Howlett had a little more pace than his coach all those years ago and managed to avoid the chasing pack. Howlett has more than justified Kidneys decision to pursue the All Black try scoring machine, one of several outstanding calls the Cork man has made over the past decade.
Now he finds himself in the most prestigious and pressurised coaching ticket in Irish rugby. It is just-reward for someone who has progressed through the ranks of schools coaching, where he enjoyed outstanding success at both junior and senior level with PBC, onto Irish schools, U19’s and his club Dolphin, before entering the professional era.
Kidney’s career path provides the inspiration for all aspiring young Irish coaches with a dream to coach their country. His track record makes him the outstanding candidate and had he not been selected it would have sent the wrong message to the development of our indigenous coaches.
That said, he has now to prove he is the best man for the job and cope with the ever increasing media spotlight which accompanies the role of the national coach. International rugby is a results-driven business and in that respect, Kidney will be judged on the same criteria as his predecessor and fellow international coaches.
While there are those within this country who will express reservations about this appointment, Kidney brings not only a wealth of experience to the role but also some outstanding characteristics.
In terms of man management, Kidney has few peers. The most difficult job for any coach in the modern game is to satisfy the demands and ambitions of up to 34 professional players in a squad when only 15 can start on any given day. Managing the expectations and disappointments of those within the squad is central to the success of the group as a whole.
Kidney has proved himself a master in extracting the best from players, none more so than this season where Munster have at least two options available for every starting position.
He is perceived in some quarters, like Eddie O’Sullivan, as conservative in his selection policies — a charge that carries some justification.
However his decision to pick both Denis Hurley and Tomas O’Leary over the experience of Shaun Payne and Peter Stringer in this Heineken Cup campaign demonstrates forcibly to all the younger players that the door is always open if the circumstances are right and form demands.
SOME OF Kidney’s methods have baffled players at times, yet he still manages to keep a freshness within the group by constantly revisiting their goals and expectations. His meticulous attention to detail has also served him well over the years, a point not lost on his players. He is a master at covering all angles and constantly reviews the ‘what if’ scenario. In the event that something happens unexpectedly, more times than most, Kidney will have anticipated the solution in advance of the problem.
The other thing that has served him well in his years in charge of Munster is the sense of history and tradition that surrounds the team. Modest by nature, Kidney has instilled his personal values in the players. Each and every one of them recognise they are part of something bigger and greater than any one individual and each has the belief that the jersey has been worn by many over the years and is held in trust for the next generation.
In an ever-changing game, Kidney has survived because of a willingness to accept his own strengths and weaknesses. He is not afraid to delegate and recognises the strengths of others who can add to the overall package. This will be a key characteristic if he is to succeed in the Irish job.
Technically he recognises that specific help is required and his ability to work and extract the best from those around him is a major strength.
With some experienced players entering the twilight of their careers, Ireland could well face a period of transition over the next two seasons. It is important that people recognise this and that Kidney is given time to impose his personal stamp on the national side. The least he deserves is the opportunity to deliver.
I wish him every success.
© Examiner Publications (Cork) Limited, City Quarter, Lapps Quay, Cork. Registered in Ireland: 73385.
