Kidney Transplant
Posted on Thursday, May 8, 2008So it’s confirmed. Declan Kidney is to leave Munster and take over as head coach of Irish rugby.
Great news for Declan. Great news for the international team. Disappointing for Munster.
It also raises the appalling conjecture that Eddie O Sullivan might actually get the job (as I jokingly suggested in an April Fools post).
I hope it’s only idle speculation, but who knows the limits of Fast Eddie’s manipulations? At least it’ll give me the chance for a cheap red-top headline.
Kidney Replaced With Bollocks.
Stumble it!
May 8th, 2008
Good and all as it is, I hope you never get to use that headline.
Bad move imo by Kidney, the D4 shower have been waiting in the long grass for him since he recovered from an unfortunate bump on the head and got out of Leinster like a hot shit out of a cat’s arse some years back to take up a proper and far more rewarding job than the fashion consultancy at Donnybrook.
The IRFU job is a step down - but as long as he got a decent contract I wish him well - just as long as Munster can find a decent replacement……and please not Michael Bradley. Cons still don’t run the show as much do they?
May 8th, 2008
The concern is that Bradley (AKA son-in-law) might be shooed in to the Munster job on the back of a successful tour Down Under in June.
How does the IRFU define success? Aye, there’s the rub - success to the amateurs in D4 will mean whatever they want it to mean. And if some faceless, spineless and gutless committee (Mannion, Whelan and Jackson anyone?) decide to promote good ole Brads from Division 2 mediocrity to one of THE best jobs in Northern Hemisphere rugby, why that’s what they’ll do - because none of the rest of us know SFA about rugby, and they’ve never made any mistakes, like handing out rash 4 year contract extensions…oh wait…!! Oops!
A real rugby version of Hobson’s choice would be deciding between Bradley and EOS - but I reckon the IRFU have had their fill of that particular ‘bag of spanners’ and he won’t be considered.
Still, Bradley as Director of Rugby in Munster…? European Challenge Cup here we come!
May 8th, 2008
I have good kidneys.
my brother has crap ones.
I’m gonna have to waste one on him.
May 9th, 2008
If Munster were to look for a home grown trainer then Niall O’Donovan would be a good choice. Played all his rugby with Shannon, and as a trainer won a few AOL titles with them. He teamed up with Kidney to coach Munster first and they moved together with O’Sullivan to coach Ireland. After Kidneys departure from the irish team, O’Donovan remained on with O’Sullivan. Unfortunately he has lost favour with the irish management as he would be associated with the Eddie O’Sullivan era.
Any favourites yourself Bock?
May 9th, 2008
Niall O Donovan would be a credible choice, though I don’t think Mick Bradley is ready for the job, despite his achievement with Connacht. What we really need is a top-quality coach to build on the current success, but not a cold technical guy. We need someone who’ll buy into the Munster thing. I think Jake White is still available but I don’t know how the money would look to him.
May 9th, 2008
I’ll do it.
Anyone but Eddie.
What about Tony Grant? Or Dick Smith?
But Niallo could do it and Bock, just as you say about Jack White, he also understands the Munster thing.
An aside.
Those Garryown fuckers have won nothing yet you know.
May 9th, 2008
True enough, but they did win last week.
May 9th, 2008
Bock, I always thought Jim Williams may be someone you guys would have pushed to the top but is he gone now ?
Best of luck with whoever you get - I’m sure it won’t be a mug.
Bad luck at Twickenham in 2000 by the way….;-) you’ve more than made up for it since then.
May 9th, 2008
Jim isn’t an option, to the best of my knowledge, though he’s held in great regard here. I think he’s taking a up a coaching job in Australia. And thanks for the good wishes.
May 9th, 2008
I should’ve read this blog before replying, thought it was gonna be about the health service.
May 9th, 2008
Pity he isn’t looking for a prick. He could have Eddie O Sullivan.
May 9th, 2008
Speaking of pricks, we could throw in “Pa” and Noisy for good measure.