Kidney transplant for Welsh rugby

IT MAKES perfect sense.

The Welsh Rugby Union need a coach and it seems Declan Kidney will shortly be looking for a job.

The name Kidney will most likely mean nothing to the vast majority of Welsh supporters but there was a rumour a couple of years ago that it was being bandied about in WRU corridors at a time when he was coach of a Munster side ritually thrashing teams from the valleys in European competition.

“We cannot comment on the candidates for Steve Hansen’s position but we are not ruling anyone out,” said the WRU press office, “What we will say is that the position will be advertised and whoever wishes to apply for it may do so.”

After the dour Kiwi stewardships of Graham Henry and Steve Hansen there is a feeling in Wales that they need a homegrown coach.

Llanelli’s Gareth Jenkins, Gwent Dragons’ Mike Ruddock and Leeds coach Phil Davies are the names being put forward, but why not Kidney? Those three contenders are Welsh to the core but none of them has the experience or the record that Kidney possesses.

Remember, there is precedent here, Matt Williams had achieved significantly less with Leinster before he was given the task of taking Scottish rugby forward.

Since Eddie O’Sullivan’s contract as Irish coach was extended for another four years, it has been accepted that Kidney’s position has become untenable. Much as O’Sullivan was imposed upon his predecessor Warren Gatland, so was Kidney positioned on O’Sullivan’s shoulder by the IRFU.

It was a veiled message. “We’re giving you the job, Eddie, but make a hash of it and we’ve got someone to take your place.”

Kidney needs absolute power to be effective and riding shotgun was never his thing. Nor did having him there suit O’Sullivan but ambition decreed that they both got on with things.

Although there were definite signs at the World Cup that this theirs is an uneasy working relationship, to their eternal credit both men went about their business in a thoroughly professional manner.

This was never a Brian Ashton/Pat Whelan scenario where the open hostility between members of management was allowed to affect the team.

However, now O’Sullivan has a long-term contract while Kidney’s is up for review and the perceived wisdom is that his role as number two will be offered to Niall O’Donovan, the current forwards coach.

O’Donovan will be at ease in that position having done superbly as Kidney’s number two with Munster.

So where does that leave Kidney? There is various speculation doing the rounds and one theory is that he will resume his teaching career. Of course, he is perfectly entitled to but it would damage his coaching career which has entered a lull and is in dire need of a boost if the ultimate ambition of coaching Ireland is to be attained.

The other rumours of English, and possibly French, club interest would not be the ideal scenario either.

Given the length and intensity of their seasons, coaching in England or France would probably mean moving abroad, and, having had a taste of international football, it would also constitute a backward step.

So why not Wales?

Kidney has always been a magnificent coach with a CV of progressive achievement stretching back to the mid-1980s.

He has had success with school, club and province, as well as Ireland U19 and A teams and, though the Heineken Cup has eluded his clutches, he took Munster rugby to a point where it has eclipsed the achievements of the 1978 All-Black conquerors. In addition, many of the players who have dragged the Irish international side up the rankings ladder in recent times would cite Kidney as their primary coaching influence.

Wales, like so many of the sides he has taken on in the past, are a team brimful of youthful promise but short on success. The Hansen era has seen nine victories in 26 matches and that is a win ratio that is unlikely to improve significantly before he steps down next April.

There may be issues about an Irishman coaching a foreign team against his own, but Wales would represent an ideal staging post before he eventually takes the reins with Ireland.

This is one of those things that seems a trifle outlandish at first, but the more you look at it, the more it makes sense. For Wales, and for Declan Kidney.

And remember, you heard it here first.