Kidney: We will learn from this experience

FIVE straight defeats.

It’s unlikely Declan Kidney has ever endured such a barren run in his coaching career to this point.

In all of his roles at schools, club, provincial and various international grades, such sustained failure has been alien to Ireland’s head coach. Saturday night’s surrender to the Wallabies in Brisbane extended Ireland’s losing run to three months. As the closing match of the tour, it also ensured that by the time South Africa pitch up to raise the curtain on the gleaming new Lansdowne Road in November, Ireland will have gone a full eight months without tasting triumph.