As manager to the Munster rugby team, he oversaw the seat-of-the-pants transition from amateurism to the pro era — with all its attendant scrapes and dramas. It was the age of innocence, smiles Jerry Holland, but there were as many guilty as innocent!

It will be business as usual for Ireland head coach Declan Kidney as he picks over the wreckage of a disappointing and unprecedented RBS 6 Nations campaign and begins planning for a summer tour to North America.

The IRFU have said that Paddy Jackson and Ian Madigan both came through training today with the Ireland squad in the Aviva Stadium.

Newport Gwent Dragons 19 Leinster 26

As Ireland international selection calls go, Declan Kidney’s choice to toss in Ulster’s Paddy Jackson against Scotland ahead of Ronan O’Gara is pretty seismic.

Declan Kidney may have delayed naming his team until tomorrow but hopes of a clean bill of health for Sunday’s Six Nations clash with England at Lansdowne Road continue to mount with every passing day.

The Six Nations hasn’t compared favourably in terms of quality with the Heineken Cup in recent years.

Jonathan Sexton is expected to be fit to start for Ireland in Saturday’s crucial test against Argentina, despite his training being limited after experiencing tightness of the groin during kicking drills.

The look on Peter O’Mahony’s face says almost as much as the words that follow.

Andrew Trimble has demanded an emphatic response to Ireland’s nightmare summer tour when they face South Africa.

Declan Kidney and his coaching staff have finally gotten some positive news on the injury front with the Ireland medical team reporting that Paul O’Connell and Cian Healy came through a full training session unscathed.

With so many internationals on Rabo duty over the weekend, Declan Kidney was entitled to fear the worst ahead of the November 10 clash with South Africa, but Team Ireland was able to present a largely positive injury update from Carton House yesterday.

Declan Kidney and the full Ireland management team will take charge of the Ireland XV squad to face Fiji at Thomond Park on November 17, the IRFU has announced.

Accuracy will be key if Ireland are to create history by beating New Zealand for the first time in history in Auckland this Saturday.

Ireland coach Mark Tainton is confident Keith Earls will cope much better with the threat of England outside centre Manu Tuilagi than he did when he came up against him in the World Cup warm-up match last August.

Ireland’s bruising RBS 6 Nations campaign will not force Declan Kidney to make sweeping changes today when he names his team to face Scotland this Saturday, a game just six days after the physically intense contest with France last weekend.

This is the part in the movies where one actor surveys the scene and remarks that things are quiet, too quiet. So be it. Right now, quiet is good.

Tommy Bowe may be in a rich vein of try-scoring form right now on the Irish wing but if duty called he would be more than happy to move inside and get to grips with a midfield role.

Munster Rugby chief executive Garrett Fitzgerald insists the race to succeed Tony McGahan as the province’s director of coaching will not be a “personality competition”.

Les Kiss insisted yesterday he hasn’t even considered the possibility of replacing fellow Australian Tony McGahan as Munster coach.

It is less than four months since Ireland and Les Kiss were being hailed as innovators-in-chief at the Rugby World Cup for their ‘choke’ tackle tactics.

The Ireland team management reacted with predictable surprise to news of Stephen Ferris’ citing yesterday but have expressed their confidence that the flanker will still be available to face France in Paris on Saturday.

EXPECT a few tweaks here and there but there will be no “knee-jerk reaction” by the Irish brains trust this week as they digest last Sunday’s defeat to Wales and prepare for this Saturday’s follow-up against the French in Paris.

1 Can Declan Kidney turn the tactical tide on Warren Gatland?

Keith Earls would have had a spring in his step anyway as he celebrated becoming a father for the first time.

All eyes will be on Brian O’Driscoll’s replacement at outside centre when Ireland name their team for the RBS 6 Nations clash with Wales at lunchtime today.

Declan Kidney will name a team today ready to cast off Ireland’s bitter memories of a World Cup quarter-final exit by playing expansive rugby in their Six Nations opener against Wales on Sunday.

The gauntlet has been thrown down by Ireland’s assistant coach and now the boss must name a team to deliver the promise of expansive, free-wheeling rugby in the bid to exact revenge over Wales at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday.

Luke Fitzgerald has an outside chance of being available for the second round of Ireland’s RBS 6 Nations campaign.

IRELAND head coach Declan Kidney has added nine new faces to his squad for the opening two RBS 6 Nations matches but the majority of the selection debates for this weekend’s opener with Wales will be contained within his initial 24-man group.

GORDON D’ARCY admitted yesterday that Brian O’Driscoll will be “irreplaceable” come the Six Nations but challenged suitors to the number 13 jersey to grasp the opportunity to replace the injured talisman with both hands.

IRELAND added the final piece to Declan Kidney’s new backroom team yesterday with the appointment of Michael Kearney as team manager.

IRELAND are hoping to have a new team manager in place before the start of the RBS 6 Nations Championship next month but are still assessing the candidates to succeed Paul McNaughton.

Ireland hooker Rory Best has responded well to treatment on his shoulder but remains doubtful to face Wales in Saturday's World Cup quarter-final.

IRELAND fly-half Jonny Sexton has been backed to rediscover his place-kicking form after a disappointing start with the boot to his World Cup.

WITH just two days separating the games against Connacht and France, Declan Kidney’s resources were always going to be stretched this week, so yesterday’s injury update from Carton House was timely and welcome in equal measure.

Ireland coach Declan Kidney insists his faith in the country’s young talent persuaded him to stay on beyond the end of this autumn’s World Cup.

Ireland coach Declan Kidney and his backroom team have agreed contract extensions through to the end of the 2012-13 season.

THE IRFU announced contract extensions for Declan Kidney and three of his management team yesterday, which will see them remain in charge of the Irish team until the end of the 2012-13 season which coincides with the next British and Irish Lions Tour.

NEIL BEST believes Ireland coach Declan Kidney hasn’t done enough to track the progress of Irish players plying their trade in England.

THE future of Connacht rugby will remain under the microscope until the findings of an independent review are made known in early autumn, the Irish Rugby Football Union AGM has revealed.

YOU can see the question coming a mile away …what makes Declan Kidney such a successful rugby coach?

RONAN O’GARA launches his bid to regain his Irish team place at the Liberty Stadium, Swansea, on Saturday evening when Munster take on the Ospreys in the Magners League.

THESE are precious times for Munster supporters; what’s often overlooked is that for the players whom those supporters come to cheer, the times are even more special.