O’Sullivan’s Successor - Names in the Frame - Part #1
We announced last night that Eddie O’Sullivan had resigned as head coach of the Ireland Rugby team. The search must now begin for his successor, I’m fairly sure the IRFU won’t want to jump to any decisions but several names already appear to be in the frame less than 24 hours later.
Whoever takes the job has a lot to live upto, to become the most successful coach at test level again.
- Declan Kidney (Favourite)
Kidney lead Munster to Heineken Cup glory in 2006, has also coached Leinster and has some experience of the international setup working for a short time as O’Sullivan’s assistant. - Jake White
The most recent World Cup winning coach stepped down from his post as coach of South Africa after their post-World Cup game against the Barbarians. White has also been linked with England. - Mike Ruddock
He masterminded the 2005 Wales Grand Slam, but this would be a real turn of events with Gatland over at the Millennium Stadium now. - Alan Gaffney
Gaffney is due to step down as director of rugby at Saracens at the end of the season, before taking up a backs coaching position at Leinster in August - making him a good temporary choice if the IRFU want to spend some time looking for a new coach. - Pat Howard
Howard steered Leicester to the double (Premiership and EDF Energy Cup) in 2007, before returning home to Australia to manage the family business - it didn’t take him long to be tempted back to rugby though, accepting a position as General Manager of the Australian Rugby Union’s high performance unit. He has since quit this role leaving him also in the frame. - Wayne Smith
Smith has a good club record, lifting Northampton and having guided Canterbury Crusaders to Super 12 glory in two seasons. His test career is not so hot, he was appointed New Zealand coach in 1999, but left after a disappointing Tri-Nations in 2001. He linked up again with the All Blacks as backs coach for Graham Henrys side in the last World Cup (a journey which ended in the quarter finals).
Who would you choose?