Kidney: loss extremely disappointing

NINETY SEVEN days and 320 minutes of international rugby have passed since Declan Kidney last tasted a victory as Ireland coach.

It’s a run that might have ended here in New Zealand yesterday had Ireland been able to hold on to a mightily hard-fought lead over the New Zealand Maori in Rotorua.

Instead, a late slip cost them dear and Ireland will head for Australia without anything tangible to show for their considerable effort here yesterday. Defeat, while now an unwelcome but familiar feeling, doesn’t get any easier for the man at the helm.