So who can fill this hot seat?

The news Tony McGahan is to return to his native Australia to become defence coach with the Wallabies is superb for him on a personal level but not so good for Munster.

Despite the hysteria that accompanied Munster’s failure to make the Heineken Cup quarter-finals last season, McGahan has done an excellent job for the province in the various roles he has held while in Ireland.

McGahan made a name for himself initially as defence coach with the 2006 Heineken Cup winning sidebefore assuming a more expanded role in the 2008 success. As head coach, he has brought Munster to two Heineken Cup semi-finals, in 2009 and 2010, in addition to twice winning the Magners League title.