Donal Lenihan: what message is the IRFU sending out?
And the Irish Examiner columnist insists the IRFU must not make the mistake of prioritising international success over the provincial set-up and should instead invest heavily in installing experienced international coaching expertise in each province.
In a wide-ranging analysis of the obstacles facing the Irish provinces, published in tomorrow’s Sport 2016 magazine with the Irish Examiner, Lenihan urges the IRFU to refocus on the provinces.
“It is imperative that in order for the national side to continue to prosper and flourish, our provinces, at the very least, must remain competitive,” Lenihan writes.
“The IRFU should be putting the structures and resources in place with the aim of achieving an average of two European Cup quarter-finalists and one semi-finalist on an annual basis. Based on past achievements, that is not an over-ambitious target but we are a long way off that at present.
“For that to happen it requires a top quality coaching ticket in each province.
"The IRFU has some excellent coaching programmes in place but it needs to be expanded to encourage and facilitate our best young coaches get overseas experience.
“Australian rugby has benefited massively from the coaching exposure Michael Cheika, Alan Gaffney, Jim Williams and Tony McGahan received within the Irish system and the time has come for a reciprocal arrangement Down Under.
“Anthony Foley and Leo Cullen are two leading candidates that would have benefited hugely from such exposure.
"They are learning the hard way at the moment with both displaying the resilience that characterised their outstanding playing careers.
"It hasn’t helped their cause one bit that both coaching tickets in Munster and Leinster are hugely lacking experienced heads at a very demanding time.”
Lenihan fears the recent experiences of overseas coaches may have soured the appeal of Irish jobs.
“The IRFU need to ask the question as to why, when the Leinster Professional Board decided to dispense with the services of Matt O’Connor with a year to go on his contract, no experienced overseas coaches bothered to apply for the job.
"Leinster were shocked with the lack of interest for what should be seen as one of the prime jobs in the professional game worldwide.
“One wonders what message three of our most recent provincial coaches — Rob Penney, Mark Anscombe and O’Connor — are preaching to their counterparts in Australia and New Zealand as to the challenges associated with coaching a provincial side in Ireland due to the control and influence exerted by the IRFU.
“Is the IRFU content to make up-and-coming, home grown, appointments to the role of head coach in the knowledge that, not only will they cost less, but will be easier to control? If you want a job in the Irish set up then you can’t afford to rock the boat.”
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