Ireland Coaching Position; Open Poll And Discussion

Continuing on from the previous thread ( https://www.606v2.com/t26089-kidney-s-record-as-irish-coach ) what do you think should happen with the Ireland coaching position?

Vote and leave comments, suggestions of names, defences of the current set-up below. Don't just vote, tell us why.

Please let's try and have a constructive debate; input from posters of all nations encouraged.

Most importantly were no getting results but also were playing poor directionless rugby. You can come up with all the excuses you want but hes had 4 years to get this team where he wants it. Should have been more than enough time and we still dont look like improving. Give the summer tour to someone who has the potential to get this team playing winning rugby.

Not even sure when their contract runs out but the Leinster staff seem like they can do no wrong.

Morgannwg wrote:Not even sure when their contract runs out but the Leinster staff seem like they can do no wrong.

If that's suggesting the Leinster staff take the short train over to the Ireland camp then much as it might look very tasty to my eye in an aesthetic way I think it would be counter-productive.

Leinster and the Provinces need to be left alone - they are the successful ones; they shouldn't have to suffer a hemorrhage to try to save Ireland.

What we need is continuing solidity and continuity at the Provinces but a new coaching team in at International level to compliment what is happening at Provincial level. To compliment it and even enhance it. We need coaches that naturally coach a more aggressive attacking game that will take us out of our back-foot, containment stupour and allow players to drift from Provinces to International with more ease. Right now, International is the Province's poor cousin and the balance needs to be corrected.

Has to go IMO. Kiss remaining has merit as a defensive coach ALONE. Overall in his tenure the defence has been good but it has dipped recently with his dual remit and also our fascination with the choke tackle.

Smal I would like to go I think. It's hard to say how much of the Tony buckley balls he actually believed or what input he has in selections like doc over Ryan but there is probably enough to warrant some degree of change.

Schmidt would be a candidate for me but he does have a tie with Leinster which may irk some.

Mallett is another option with pedigree. Kirwan has been mentioned but I would be reticent if rumours about him and his agent regarding the ulster job are true. Wayne smith has been mentioned and there are numerous talented, young coaches out there like Jamie Joseph for instance. I'm not putting them forward and my first choice would be Schmidt but a a candidate with a progressive game plan and a youthful vision of the future would be a must if I were hiring.

Standulstermen wrote:
Schmidt would be a candidate for me but he does have a tie with Leinster which may irk some.

Mallett is another option with pedigree. Kirwan has been mentioned but I would be reticent if rumours about him and his agent regarding the ulster job are true. Wayne smith has been mentioned and there are numerous talented, young coaches out there like Jamie Joseph for instance. I'm not putting them forward and my first choice would be Schmidt but a a candidate with a progressive game plan and a youthful vision of the future would be a must if I were hiring.

Having Schmidt go to Ireland wouldn't irk me but I just think it might kill a very promising union between Province and country that could be developed.

I think with Ulster getting their SH coach and Schmidt at Leinster (as yet unclear what Munster are going to do) but I think Provinces staffed by strong SH influenced coaches added to a new crop of International coaches with the same philopsophy would give us a seriously promising platform for the future and 2015.

A few questions.

I know Gert Smal's contract is running out end of June, apparently this is when his son finishes school in Ireland.

Declan Kidney signed a new contract extention?

For how long?

Does the IRFU have the cahonies to pay his contract out and get a new coach in.

Do you believe they will and should look for a coach outside Ireland?

Who would they realistically look at?

I think the model of having an SH coach working with Irish coaches at provincial level could work.
I think McGahan and foley has worked at munster and incidentally I rate foley as a forwards coach although perhaps the munster head coach job might be better at the minute.

I'm not against Irish coaches but i think we need our guys to experience outside influences to truly become rounded. McCall and o'shea are finding it in the premiership. Foley has his career and worked under McGahan. I don't know if that makes sense to anyone else but it seems to in my head.

Declan Kidney has about a year left on his contract after the summer tour biltong. It expires in 2013. I doubt the IRFU have the balls.

There's no Irish coach ready for the top job yet with the possible exception of Conor O'Shea. There are a number of Irish coaches who would be excellent as Assistant Coaches like Eric Elwood and Anthony Foley. Even Brian McLaughlin was highly spoken of after his sojourn as Ireland Skills Coach. But no-one really has the profile to replace Kidney as Head Coach; I think the feeling is that we could very much benefit from a bit of a culture change in the way our international team is run and the best person to deliver that would be someone external to the system.

With Gert Smal in poor health and time running out on his contract and the backs coach not filled, there are a number of changes to the coaching staff likely anyway. Might be best to make a clean break and get a new man for the top job while we're at it.

I'm surprised that so far almost everyone wants him gone now. Would a caretaker coach take over for the Summer Tour? Who would that be?

biltongbek wrote:A few questions.

I know Gert Smal's contract is running out end of June, apparently this is when his son finishes school in Ireland.

Declan Kidney signed a new contract extention?

For how long?

Does the IRFU have the cahonies to pay his contract out and get a new coach in.

Do you believe they will and should look for a coach outside Ireland?

Who would they realistically look at?

billinbok - Gert Smal's contract isn't up until the end of the 2013 season, though there are serious question marks over his health at the moment. He confirmed in January when their was a lot of speculation that he was going back to coach SA, that he was going to see out his contract with Ireland.

Kidney's contract is up at the end of 2013 season.

I believe that the IRFU approached a few coaches when EOS resigned (he wasn't fired). Heyneke Meyer was linked, but apparently turned them down. Jake White also turned them down. When it came to it, no one was interested (in contrast to the Munster job, when Munster got 12 applicants including Gert Smal when Kidney moved onto the Ireland job).

It's a band aid notch.

I don't see what three more tests of Garryowens galore can teach us. If a new guy comes in with a new focus it can reenergise the squad and give it vitality. A change is as good as a rest and all that. Gives us our best chance of pulling off a win IMO not that it is likely.

Kidney is there until 2013 (not sure if it is after the 6ns). Unless the IRFU payout he is going nowhere.

If a new coach comes in 2013 there will be calls for a foreign coach. It would be interesting if we went down that road as Foreign coaches have invariably failed in the past due to their own lack of understanding of politics in IRish Rugby of which there is quite a lot (as well as their own limitations).

So lets take a couple of examples being put forward.
Nick Mallet successful with a great SA bunch of players. Made no real headway, development with Italy. Competitive to a certain extent but nothing else - Brunnel has already moved things on in the short space of time he has been there. Probable outcome with Ireland - use of Garryowen as primary source of attack.

Kirwan...A complete chancer.

Schmidt...(aka the new messiah). The perennial second coach took over Leinster and won the HC. So here is the question regarding smoking Joe...in ASM he was assistent to Vern and despite the huge array of talent they had only got across the line in his last year their. Won the HC in his first year in Leinster.....now here is the question about Josef. Can he develop a team or has he been blessed with inheriting high quality players in club/provincial teams. In ASM it was brought in players...in Leinster he took over a team that had the hand of Cheika all over it in terms of development. I dont think he has proven this ability as of yet. What will he do with a fit Darcy and BOD which is going to happen soon. Will he have the cojones to make the changes (so desperately looked for in Kidney) with players that are not proven at that level or will it be the same old story (albeit a successful one)....Can he put a new team together and develop how they play from an intl perspective.

The fact is that the headcoach in IReland is a job of many pitfalls, a poison chalice so to speak...we should have a referendum on it...maybe they could add it to the European Referendum later this summer.

If anyone hadnt noticed we already have SH coaches working with an Irish coach. But clearly Kidney is dictatorial in terms of how the team plays....

I think there is no way we should tolerate an non-Irish coach! Irish coaches know the heart and soul and fire and blood and history and poetry and song and dance and culture of this nation. That is the only criteria that should be a MUST for any future Irish coach.

He must know who Jackie Healy Rae is, he must despise the memory of that cheating devil Haughey, he must listen to news in Irish, for the Deaf and in English on ye old misery news channel RTE 1... he must have memories of a crossroads and comely maidens and he must know something - anything at all - about the foward pass law.

That'll do me.

Secret Fly
But then you would have to replace both Kiss and Feek,and thats plus find a backs coach?

I won't stand it, I tell you. Must have an Irish passport, father, mother, grandfather and grandmother at the very least! Plus a couple of focals

SecretFly wrote:I think there is no way we should tolerate an non-Irish coach! Irish coaches know the heart and soul and fire and blood and history and poetry and song and dance and culture of this nation. That is the only criteria that should be a MUST for any future Irish coach.

He must know who Jackie Healy Rae is, he must despise the memory of that cheating devil Haughey, he must listen to news in Irish, for the Deaf and in English on ye old misery news channel RTE 1... he must have memories of a crossroads and comely maidens and he must know something - anything at all - about the foward pass law.

That'll do me.

Thats just hilarious................laugh I almost did!!!!

I'm glad you didn't laugh DOD....that would have ruined the crease in your well crafted persona

DOD - You forgot to mention Matt Williams as an option. He would be acceptable to the IRFU - along with Ruddock who seems to be fairly popular in D4 circles.

Matt Williams smells of foreigner to me. He's out. Ruddock has an Irish son and wife. He passes.

Sin é wrote:DOD - You forgot to mention Matt Williams as an option. He would be acceptable to the IRFU - along with Ruddock who seems to be fairly popular in D4 circles.

Perish the thought!!!

SecretFly wrote:Matt Williams smells of foreigner to me. He's out. Ruddock has an Irish son and wife. He passes.

You ever listen to Williams talking about 'we'. His grandfather is from Limerick. Rudduck himself is 3/4 Irish (mother from Clare).

DOD wrote:

Sin é wrote:DOD - You forgot to mention Matt Williams as an option. He would be acceptable to the IRFU - along with Ruddock who seems to be fairly popular in D4 circles.

Perish the thought!!!

The Nordies would love him alright!

Moral of the story is "be careful for what you wish for."

Sin é wrote:

SecretFly wrote:Matt Williams smells of foreigner to me. He's out. Ruddock has an Irish son and wife. He passes.

You ever listen to Williams talking about 'we'. His grandfather is from Limerick. Rudduck himself is 3/4 Irish (mother from Clare).

I don't know Sin...I'm still iffy about Williams even though the Limerick bit makes him a guarantee to be on my shortlist. The accent he'd have to try to tone down though.

SecretFly wrote:

Sin é wrote:

SecretFly wrote:Matt Williams smells of foreigner to me. He's out. Ruddock has an Irish son and wife. He passes.

You ever listen to Williams talking about 'we'. His grandfather is from Limerick. Rudduck himself is 3/4 Irish (mother from Clare).

I don't know Sin...I'm still iffy about Williams even though the Limerick bit makes him a guarantee to be on my shortlist. The accent he'd have to try to tone down though.

And they loved him in Leinster. (they must not have known about his Limerick connections).

My spies...I wasn't paying them enough back then obviously. But they still assured me he was clean, the liars. Just goes to show you that if you're not exceptionally generous in a boom, the work doesn't get done. Celtic Tiger lesson there.

Sin é wrote:

DOD wrote:

Sin é wrote:DOD - You forgot to mention Matt Williams as an option. He would be acceptable to the IRFU - along with Ruddock who seems to be fairly popular in D4 circles.

Perish the thought!!!

The Nordies would love him alright!

Actually wouldn't mind seeing him as an option for backs coach, which he is very good at. Some of the best rugby Ulster have played in recent times through the backs came under him. Wouldn't consider him as Head Coach for a second. Not sure he's the kind of guy who likes answering to a boss or just dealing with players but he knows how to get some good rugby out of a backline.

Certianly better than what we have now, which is no dedicated backs coach.

Last two seasons it hasn't clicked for ireland.

A great bunch of players and a decent squad supporting a good first team that is not firing as it should.

Time for a change.

If Kidney is to stop then it should be immediately and not after the the summer tours. If he is to continue then he should be given the full backing.

Personally i would like him to stop now as i just dont think that he is the right coach for the the future.

Schmidt...(aka the new messiah). The perennial second coach took over Leinster and won the HC. So here is the question regarding smoking Joe...in ASM he was assistent to Vern and despite the huge array of talent they had only got across the line in his last year their. Won the HC in his first year in Leinster.....now here is the question about Josef. Can he develop a team or has he been blessed with inheriting high quality players in club/provincial teams. In ASM it was brought in players...in Leinster he took over a team that had the hand of Cheika all over it in terms of development. I dont think he has proven this ability as of yet. What will he do with a fit Darcy and BOD which is going to happen soon. Will he have the cojones to make the changes (so desperately looked for in Kidney) with players that are not proven at that level or will it be the same old story (albeit a successful one)....Can he put a new team together and develop how they play from an intl perspective.

That’s just pulled out of thin air. Madigan, D Kearney, Ryan, Ruddock, Toner, Healy, Strauss, Ross, O’Brien have all been massively improved since Schmidt started with Leinster. Madigan played 5 games in 2 years under MC, he’s played 36 under Schmidt in a shorter time.

Mickado wrote:

Schmidt...(aka the new messiah). The perennial second coach took over Leinster and won the HC. So here is the question regarding smoking Joe...in ASM he was assistent to Vern and despite the huge array of talent they had only got across the line in his last year their. Won the HC in his first year in Leinster.....now here is the question about Josef. Can he develop a team or has he been blessed with inheriting high quality players in club/provincial teams. In ASM it was brought in players...in Leinster he took over a team that had the hand of Cheika all over it in terms of development. I dont think he has proven this ability as of yet. What will he do with a fit Darcy and BOD which is going to happen soon. Will he have the cojones to make the changes (so desperately looked for in Kidney) with players that are not proven at that level or will it be the same old story (albeit a successful one)....Can he put a new team together and develop how they play from an intl perspective.

That’s just pulled out of thin air. Madigan, D Kearney, Ryan, Ruddock, Toner, Healy, Strauss, Ross, O’Brien have all been massively improved since Schmidt started with Leinster. Madigan played 5 games in 2 years under MC, he’s played 36 under Schmidt in a shorter time.

I cant +1 that enough Mick

Has Kidney really done that bad? A Grand Slam in 2009, a good showing in the RWC 2011 including beating Australia.

This season a draw in Paris (Ireland normally do poorly in France), Mullering Scotland and Italy, narrowly losing to the Team who went on to win the Grand Slam in this year’s 6N.

Sure you were rubbish against England but surely the blame should be pointed at your pack who’s scrum was demolished and the backrow who were so dominant in every other game all of a sudden went MIA? You also did not have 2 of your best players (BOD and POC) through injury.

My only criticism of Kidney at the moment would be his perseverence with Heaslip at 8 who has been below par for the last few games.

Leave Kidney alone, the players let him down.

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:Has Kidney really done that bad? A Grand Slam in 2009, a good showing in the RWC 2011 including beating Australia.

This season a draw in Paris (Ireland normally do poorly in France), Mullering Scotland and Italy, narrowly losing to the Team who went on to win the Grand Slam in this year’s 6N.

Sure you were rubbish against England but surely the blame should be pointed at your pack who’s scrum was demolished and the backrow who were so dominant in every other game all of a sudden went MIA? You also did not have 2 of your best players (BOD and POC) through injury.

My only criticism of Kidney at the moment would be his perseverence with Heaslip at 8 who has been below par for the last few games.

Leave Kidney alone, the players let him down.

Thats the thing mate, Declan always seems to do just enough to keep his head above water but Ireland have been declining for several years now under him. He is a very good coach but he is not the man to take Ireland forward.

I actually think that he would do an ok job with the Scots...

I toilet trained Gibbon would do a better job for the Scots!

Putting it as simply as I could. If AR in his tenure had won us a Grandslam, taken us to the QF in the RWC and beaten Australia in a competative match I would be utterly over the moon.

I just think the players let Kidney down, he IMO picked the best players available but you lost the spine of the team when BOD got injured, Murray dropped out and O'Connell dropped out as well.

It really has been a steady decline for Ireland under him Rugger. I feel slightly ashamed of complaining to a Scotsman about a coach to be honest.

Aaaargh, for fecks sake, talk about kneejerk reactions, who do you all think you are, Welsh ? It is usually us who messes things up, not you lot. Lets not forget, this is a man who has won Heineken Cups', Celtic Leagues, Ireland's first grand slam in a bizzilion years and now you lot want to get rid of him. It is not his fault that your superstars are getting older and are on their way out, unless the Irish regions bring through AND USE decent up and comming players then how on earth can Declan Kidney gauge them ? The only player I have seen this season come through the ranks in Ireland and really look the real deal is Zebo. There is defenatley players there but for some reason they are not being used as they should. How many young Irish tightheads are playing regular rugby for their regions ? How many Irish outside half's are playing regular for their regions. The older player nedd to be taken off their central contract's and make way for the younger players, and just give Declan Kidney a chance, Ireland are too good a rugby nation to just turn crap over one season.

Notch wrote:

Sin é wrote:

DOD wrote:

Sin é wrote:DOD - You forgot to mention Matt Williams as an option. He would be acceptable to the IRFU - along with Ruddock who seems to be fairly popular in D4 circles.

Perish the thought!!!

The Nordies would love him alright!

Actually wouldn't mind seeing him as an option for backs coach, which he is very good at. Some of the best rugby Ulster have played in recent times through the backs came under him. Wouldn't consider him as Head Coach for a second. Not sure he's the kind of guy who likes answering to a boss or just dealing with players but he knows how to get some good rugby out of a backline.

Certianly better than what we have now, which is no dedicated backs coach.

Ireland were the top try scorers in the 6Ns (with 13 tries). 10 of those were scored by backs.

Sin é wrote:

Notch wrote:

Sin é wrote:

DOD wrote:

Sin é wrote:DOD - You forgot to mention Matt Williams as an option. He would be acceptable to the IRFU - along with Ruddock who seems to be fairly popular in D4 circles.

Perish the thought!!!

The Nordies would love him alright!

Actually wouldn't mind seeing him as an option for backs coach, which he is very good at. Some of the best rugby Ulster have played in recent times through the backs came under him. Wouldn't consider him as Head Coach for a second. Not sure he's the kind of guy who likes answering to a boss or just dealing with players but he knows how to get some good rugby out of a backline.

Certianly better than what we have now, which is no dedicated backs coach.

Ireland were the top try scorers in the 6Ns (with 13 tries). 10 of those were scored by backs.

A perfect example of how stats are useless when they're out of context.

That is true Sin, but look at who Ireland got the majority of those tries against and the way they got them...

Mickado wrote:

Schmidt...(aka the new messiah). The perennial second coach took over Leinster and won the HC. So here is the question regarding smoking Joe...in ASM he was assistent to Vern and despite the huge array of talent they had only got across the line in his last year their. Won the HC in his first year in Leinster.....now here is the question about Josef. Can he develop a team or has he been blessed with inheriting high quality players in club/provincial teams. In ASM it was brought in players...in Leinster he took over a team that had the hand of Cheika all over it in terms of development. I dont think he has proven this ability as of yet. What will he do with a fit Darcy and BOD which is going to happen soon. Will he have the cojones to make the changes (so desperately looked for in Kidney) with players that are not proven at that level or will it be the same old story (albeit a successful one)....Can he put a new team together and develop how they play from an intl perspective.

That’s just pulled out of thin air. Madigan, D Kearney, Ryan, Ruddock, Toner, Healy, Strauss, Ross, O’Brien have all been massively improved since Schmidt started with Leinster. Madigan played 5 games in 2 years under MC, he’s played 36 under Schmidt in a shorter time.

I posted this on the other thread, but there were 5 changes from the team that won the Heineken Cup under Cheika and the one won by Schmidt.

The five changes were all down to retirements - Chris Whittaker, Jackman, Mal and Rocky returning back to Aus and Stan wright moving onto Stade with Cheika.

Looks like Kidney isn't the only one who just drops players because they are getting on a bit. Nathan Hines was preferred to Toner although Schmidt had Toner for a full season to get him up to HCup starter standard.

eirebilly wrote:That is true Sin, but look at who Ireland got the majority of those tries against and the way they got them...

England & Wales also played these teams and they didn't manage to score those tries. 18pts of England's points were (scrum) penalties against Ireland.

How is that in any way a response to what I just said.

Has Schmidt not given HC debuts to D Kearney, Cronin, Hagan, Madigan, Ryan, O’Malley, Ruddock and McFadden?

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:I toilet trained Gibbon would do a better job for the Scots!

Putting it as simply as I could. If AR in his tenure had won us a Grandslam, taken us to the QF in the RWC and beaten Australia in a competative match I would be utterly over the moon.

I just think the players let Kidney down, he IMO picked the best players available but you lost the spine of the team when BOD got injured, Murray dropped out and O'Connell dropped out as well.

To put it as bluntly as it needs to be put..... we don't need O'Driscoll (and that's coming from someone who has him up there as my No1)

I think he'll be back, and I think he has at least one or two more years to give of himself - but no, we don't need him. Needing a single player is for lesser teams with lesser skill sets. Ireland isn't that team. Ireland is a side badly coached. That's just simply it. No getting around it.

That they achieved 3rd place, that they amassed most points and most tries is testament to the abilities of these players. That they are being badly managed and coached is responsible for them coming third when they could quite easily take 1st. That they are being badly managed and coached is responsible for the WC warm up cycle of no wins. That they are being badly coached is responsible for the implosion against Wales at the world cup. That they are being badly managed is responsible for us being 8th in the world (for about 7 months on a run so far).

That's not players letting anyone down, that's bad management.

Sin é wrote:

eirebilly wrote:That is true Sin, but look at who Ireland got the majority of those tries against and the way they got them...

England & Wales also played these teams and they didn't manage to score those tries. 18pts of England's points were (scrum) penalties against Ireland.

As true as that maybe, Ireland didnt manage to cross Englands line...

Keith Earls, Eoin Reddan, Fergus McFadden, Andrew Trimble x 2, Tommy Bowe x5.

Maybe you could enlighten us with how any of these tries were scored because well coached backlines? I'm assuming you can tell the difference between a back that is playing well, and good backs play.

Sin é wrote:


I posted this on the other thread, but there were 5 changes from the team that won the Heineken Cup under Cheika and the one won by Schmidt.

The five changes were all down to retirements - Chris Whittaker, Jackman, Mal and Rocky returning back to Aus and Stan wright moving onto Stade with Cheika.

Looks like Kidney isn't the only one who just drops players because they are getting on a bit. Nathan Hines was preferred to Toner although Schmidt had Toner for a full season to get him up to HCup starter standard.

You forgot about the major change Schmidt made at Leinster,gameplan.We now play wonderful attcking 15 man rugby.It's not backs or forwards orientated it's just good team play.We don't kick the ball away 30% of the time like Kidney has Ireland doing.

Schmidt hasn't dropped his older players because he's still getting them to perform at a good standard,Kidney isn't.

And despite a decent Bowe try against france we were gifted another.

Against a 14 man Wales we were so creative that tommy Bowe had to scrape over in the corner from which hpwe missed the conversion that would have tied the match.

England for all the lack of trys are a brand new team and so this can be forgiven. Irelands backs have been playing together for years and despite good tournaments from Kearney, Bowe (try scoring wise) and earls who stepped in really well we don't look dangerous

Mickado wrote:How is that in any way a response to what I just said.

Has Schmidt not given HC debuts to D Kearney, Cronin, Hagan, Madigan, Ryan, O’Malley, Ruddock and McFadden?

Pretty much all of them would have got their chance through some of the older players being injured or retiring or moving to another club. Kidney had Ruddock playing international rugby before he played HCup rugby, by the way and its not as if Cronin & Hagan came up through the ranks in Leinster. They have been playing European competition over the last couple of years for Connacht.

LordDowlais wrote:Aaaargh, for fecks sake, talk about kneejerk reactions, who do you all think you are, Welsh ? It is usually us who messes things up, not you lot. Lets not forget, this is a man who has won Heineken Cups', Celtic Leagues, Ireland's first grand slam in a bizzilion years and now you lot want to get rid of him. It is not his fault that your superstars are getting older and are on their way out, unless the Irish regions bring through AND USE decent up and comming players then how on earth can Declan Kidney gauge them ? The only player I have seen this season come through the ranks in Ireland and really look the real deal is Zebo. There is defenatley players there but for some reason they are not being used as they should. How many young Irish tightheads are playing regular rugby for their regions ? How many Irish outside half's are playing regular for their regions. The older player nedd to be taken off their central contract's and make way for the younger players, and just give Declan Kidney a chance, Ireland are too good a rugby nation to just turn crap over one season.

What's kneejerk about it,if you had been following the Irish threads on 606 you'd realise we've been calling for Kidney to change things or leave for at least 12 months.

Mickado wrote:Keith Earls, Eoin Reddan, Fergus McFadden, Andrew Trimble x 2, Tommy Bowe x5.

Maybe you could enlighten us with how any of these tries were scored because well coached backlines? I'm assuming you can tell the difference between a back that is playing well, and good backs play.

My point exactly, the majority of Irelands tries were not scored because of sweeping backline movements.

Sin é wrote:
Ireland were the top try scorers in the 6Ns (with 13 tries). 10 of those were scored by backs.

Not only that, they were also top points scorers. Remarkable stats for a side that prides itself on defence and still comes away with those high scoring stats and only third place.

Who is responsible for the try scoring? Kidney?

Of course he is - he's the coach we're all complaining about and give no credit to. So he's responsible for the try scoring but he isn't responsible for the bad stuff that happens in those games. No, that becomes a player problem.

Not playing for him, with him, or able to play at all (according to some) Sub-standard players - not as good as they or we think they are - chancers - slackers - and still coming away with 121 points and 13 tries despite playing a dreadfully negative defensive game of kick-away rugby. Kudos to Kidney and his coaches for the tries, bah humbug to the players for letting him down in the results catagory.