Ireland coach Declan Kidney has stated that he will consider his future over the next few weeks, after falling to defeat Italy.
Kidney has been under considerable pressure since Ireland's victory over Wales in Cardiff at the beginning of the Championship, drawing with France and losing to England, Scotland and Italy.
"I said all along that I'd concentrate on each game as it came and that's all I've done today," said Kidney.
"I wasn't thinking that this could be my last match as coach, all I was concentrating on was getting the win.
"I wanted to get a result out of today, we didn't manage to do that and we'll reflect on it over the coming days and weeks.
"I'd have to sit down and think about whether I want a new contract. These guys are a pleasure to work with, but beyond that I'd have to sit back and think about it."
Kidney also praised veteran centre Brian O'Driscoll, with the former Ireland captain's future unclear moving forward.
"Brian has had a strong Six Nations given everything that has been going on for him," added Kidney.
"He was outstanding against Wales and had a good match against France. I thought he did well today too.
"He's earned the space and time to be able to make up his own mind. Players are the only ones who know when the time is right to go."
Comments
Irishzimbabwean says...
The last sentence of this typical Kidney ramble sums it up I am afraid " Players are the only ones who know when the time is right to go". Too true - because coaches seem not to.
I am told Luke Marshall should never have started - after his concussion on the previous weekend.If that is so - then the Irish backroom team deserve to be fired anyway. You cannot put players' health at risk like that.
Posted 14:46 18th March 2013
black47 says...
Kidney must go but any new coach would want to give the players a good kick up the backside for their attitude and mistakes this season. They have bottled every second half. Only BOD, Zebo and Gilroy have performed. Look at that clown Heaslip going to meet the English captain for the coin toss wearing his headphones. Imagine Robshaw going back to his dressing room and telling his players, 'These guys have no respect for us, Lets show them' and that's exactly what they did. He has to go as captain and player. That's the first decision of any new coach.
Posted 19:34 17th March 2013
blametheref says...
What did we learn here? We learnt that BOD still has a central role with this team, even as a super-sub, and that Kidney CANNOT be kept on, particulary as he completely misjudged the Captaincy and the 10 position throughout this 6 Nations and we had full proof that Mr. Too-Deep Jackson is not an International fly half. From yesterday's game we discovered Madigan has a bright future with Ireland, things happened when he came on, any Leinster follower wouldn't have been surprised and if Sexton was on the field, he, Madigan, Bod and Gilroy could have won this for Ireland. Not only this, but Kidney played this entire 6 Nations with no trust in his bench resulting in our pack being knackered in the final quarter of every match. All the other 5 teams in this 6 Nations had their bench as part of their team, Ireland didn't. Eddie O' Sullivan was guilty of the same sin. Under these two coaches, Ireland shoud have picked up at least 2 more Grand Slams and made the WC final on at least one occasion...Against Italy yesterday, it was laughable to see an Irish throw where 6' 10" Toner, with his back to the thrower was Ryan's lifter, we lost the line out! To top it all, our line out wasn't going all day, but even when Toner came on (too late) he wasn't utilized by sticking him at 2 or 3 and just winning the bloody ball for once. Why was this? Because like I said previously, the Irish bench is not really part of the team in Kidney's thinking. His plan was to always have a good enough lead before even considering the bench and in some cases it seemed he'd already decided some backs substitutions before the match! Conor Murray being a case in point against France. But didn't he always do this with Sexton, Rog, Murray, O' Leary, Boss and Reddan? Sadly, 2 Irish underachieving conservative coaches have blown the O' Driscoll era, maybe it's time for Joe Schmidt to run the Sexton era!
Posted 14:02 17th March 2013
Tooroysh says...
@3in4
Your way out of order saying that , im not kidneys biggest fan but you cannot attack him the way you are! It's up to the IRFU to get a better structure in for the next coach as kidney' did not work.
Posted 14:01 17th March 2013
ste490 says...
Time to go Dec. That was beyond poor.
Posted 13:53 17th March 2013
THESKUTCH says...
He should be hung from the gallows and not allowed back inside the pale ever again
Posted 10:43 17th March 2013
passtheball says...
Kidd, BOD and some others need to move on.
Posted 07:25 17th March 2013
3in4 says...
"I'd have to sit down and think about whether I want a new contract."
What planet is this twit living on? Seriously. How deluded and narcissistic can you be, that you spend 4 years presiding over consisent inconsistency and mediocrity, selecting the old Munster boys and illegitimate spawn, ignoring promising youth talent, wasting the talent that you actually do pick...and then think that a possible contract extension is up to you?
This is a textbook example of the arrogance and detachment from reality that has characterised Cabbage-Head's reign of error, right from the beginning. Irish rugby deserves better than this joke of a coach.
Posted 22:43 16th March 2013