...not by his reckoning

EDDIE O’SULLIVAN yesterday strenuously defended his position as Irish rugby coach and insisted he had no intention of resigning after the defeat by Wales at Croke Park on Saturday.

The position, of course, could be taken out of his hands should the IRFU decide that enough is enough after another disappointing Irish performance.

O’Sullivan has been in the job since 2002 and prior to that was backs coach for two years under Warren Gatland. Three Triple Crowns in four years prompted the Union to extend his contract by four years but a disastrous World Cup has now been followed by a poor RBS Six Nations Championship.