THE IRFU HAS interviewed Ewen McKenzie and Jake White for the vacant position as head coach of the Ireland team, it has been reported.
The pair are in the middle of a war-of-words ahead of Saturday’s Super Rugby derby meeting between their clubs, the Brumbies and the Queensland Reds, after former Springboks boss White branded the Reds “the dirtiest team in Australian rugby”.
Two of the Southern Hemisphere’s most highly-regarded coaches, they are believed to be in the running to replace Declan Kidney along with Leinster’s Joe Schmidt and interim coach Les Kiss.
And according to Sydney’s Daily Telegraph, both have taken part in video conferences with IRFU chiefs about the possibility of being handed the top job.
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Great to see Irish rugby attracting top coaches from around the world. People know we have the player potential.
This report is false. They may have interviewed mckenzie but jake white yesterday reaffirmed his comittment to the brumbies. He will be the next wallaby coach provided deans doesnt turn the lions and tri-nation series into a farce for aussie rugby.
Its schmidt or link for ireland and either one would make an excellent choice
Link?
Its mckenzie’s nickname here in oz
Ta!
Seems there are excellent coaches lining up for the job
Jake White.World cup winning coach.Sweet
There is something very unedifying either in the comments of the candidates – McKenzie, White re “dirtiest” team, Schmidt re POC incident. To my mind, all are bringing the game into disrepute.
Barry O’Driscoll, BO’Ds uncle, resigned his post in rugby citing the laxness within the game in relation to protecting concussed players. Indeed, Leinster lost two hookers, Jackman and Fogerty, to neurological injuries associated with being “allowed” to play after concussions. Yet, how many times has BOD and indeed countless other players been selected after head traumas? Luke Marshall?
McKenzie, White and Schmidt are coaches of prominence. The latter went ballistic about the impact 90,000 YouTube hits of the POC incident would have on the future of the game. Yet, how many times has he (along with most other coaches) selected and risked injured players?
The hypocrisy of these three individuals asks serious questions of their suitability to coach at any level.
No it doesn’t.
….. And speaking of hypocrisy ….. You are on the one hand berating the IRFU / IRB for allowing players to play too soon after a concussion … while at the same time berating Schmidt for having the cheek to question what effect POC inflicting a concussion on Kearney ( an action which, say what you like, was at the very least careless … ie showing no care for an injured player lying prostrate on the ground after a bad fall from a high catch ) …. Most unbiased rugby friends ( many from munster ) seem to think he should have been cited with perhaps a 1 week or no ban as the act was clearly unintentional although as I said reckless / careless .
Can you not read? I didn’t quote either IRFU or IRB. I referred to the utterances of a coach who on one hand criticizes the implications of a non-citing for something that resulted in an injury to one of his players.
On the other hand, the same coach week in, week out, selects players carrying injuries/concussions regardless of the consequences.
That’s the hypocrisy. And he is not alone. Who allowed BOD back onto the pitch vs France? How many professional coaches have rushed players back into playing – or allowed the players themselves to decide to return – before they are fit?
Schmidt was viral in his attack which in turn the press milked. Right. Let the press AND all media really examine the implications for the game of lack of protection of players and let them name those coaches guilty.
Name a top flight coach who has never allowed a player to carry on after a concussion or for that matter ignored the recommended 3 week lay-off for such an injury.
Yes I can read actually , clearly and perhaps my comprehension is a little more uncluttered then yours and a little more non biased. Actually you mentioned 3 coaches but I assumed you were referring to the IRB directive on concussion injuries and the IRFU handling of same. When Schmidt criticised POC ( or more correctly criticised the lack of a citing for the incident regardless of the punishment or non punishment ….. and as I said before for the record I think he should have been cited and received a one week ban for being careless and possibly dangerously so ) it wasn’t for causing a concussion it was for clearly showing a careless ( possibly reckless ) disregard for the safety of a possibly injured player not in a position to defend himself.
As a matter of interest, what do you perceive to be my bias?
Also, this might interest you:
http://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/columnists/matt-cooper/we-cant-kick-to-touch-when-it-comes-to-players-head-injuries-228737.html#.UXFLOAD3j_E.twitter
I agree with most of this article.
We have heart and talent, fingers crossed they pick well.
I think the oval ball makes things more difficult in general.
Skype interview,,,,gwaaaan the i.r.f.u dont fly anyone over to chat to him anyway
Did you read it Joe? They have a derby on Saturday. If they’d have flown over you’d have questioned their commitment…..
I meant someone could have flown over to chat to them? Im not questioning anything once we get the best man for the job, doesnt matter what team he currently coaches, i think its great such renound coaches are taking an interest in the job
Personally I don’t it really matters whose coach! We’re not a world class team
That and the fact that the would be world class coach will only have the players for short periods of the year.
Youre right macca, tipperary aren’t world class…
Ireland are not a world class team, face facts! so many of ye here are afraid of yer lives to say something considered “bad” about your own
Nobody is claiming we should be winning world cups every four years, however we should definitely be challenging for the 6 nations a lot more often than we are. The results since 2009 have been a downward spiral, despite the upward challenge of our four provinces in their celtic league and europe. There is no doubt a better coaching ticket will result in better performances and results. hats wrong with wanting and expecting better, rather than the ‘woe is me’ poor mouthing your kind spew out!!
Winning six nations makes Us a decent team but not world class! To become world class u need to defeat New Zealand Australia and South Africa on a regular basis
sorry, but whats your point?
are you saying we SHOULDNT be looking to get coachs of the ilk of white and mckenzie?
youre say it doesnt matter who coaches us, well thats plainly incorrect, of course it matters who coaches us. Every successful team is driven by a successful manager.
Of course we will try get a successful manager! My main point is where an average team
wales went from being 11th in the world ranks, having a disastrous autumn international test series, being drawn in the 3rd tier in the next world cup…….to retaining the 6 nations.
France is stumbling from one mess to another after loosing a world cup final.
England are showing what can be done with good management and average players.
Scotland and italy both beat us.
ALL the teams we play regularly are AVERAGE…. we should still be doing a hell of a lot better against them. The current coaching set up is not getting these results out of the players… yes, players have responsibility, but so do management in game plan, tactics and man management… all of which have been very disappointing under DK since 09.
I agree management posses some of the blame but still on a given day I maintain england France and Wales are better then us! Some people talk as if we’re this brilliant team who are punching below their weight! We’re not! We have a few world class players that’s it! If u compare us to the top drawer teams! How many of our players would get on those Southern Hemisphere teams?
Wales got where they are with a coach the IRFU ditched and yet who had provided the nucleus of EO’S and Kidney’s teams. Probably one of the most successful coaches in rugby.
Has the IRFU learnt its lesson, I wonder?
Badger badger badger
Mushroom mushroom!
Snake
Nice to see someone come the opposite way for a job
Happy as Larry these 2 top southern hemisphere coaches are talked about,I’v said this before the talent we have,but our playing method is old & outdated & years behind!! Also whoever gets it,I’d like them build & blood the young talent we have in summer & autumn tours more!!
The IRFU should be looking at home grown coaches that have drive and ambition about them rather than overseas coaches without any connection to Irish rugby and only out for a payday. The likes of Elwood, McLaughlin, Bradley and O’Shea come to mind straight away, maybe there are more, but there must come a point where some these are given a chance ahead of foreigners.
We have had home grown coaches for the past 8years and we are behind the rest of the world. Time to try overseas
Aside from O’Shea none of those that you mentioned are experienced enough for the job. The three current front runners have won a World Cup, two Heineken cups and a super 14. The coaches you mentioned have won an English premiership and the coach that won that doesn’t want the job.
If the Irish coaches are good enough let them prove themselves elsewhere and come in to the job with more than potential and a chance to prove themselves.
Which would you prefer, O’Shea now or after the next World Cup after he has won a Heineken cup with quins?
Can’t believe we’re interviewing Frazier for the job!
Eddie is being approached for a role as team mascot…..
Two great coaches in McKenzie and White but can’t see them leaving two of the best franchises in Super Rugby halfway through contracts and with both sides in contention to win it this year and the next few years.
Mckenzie has already stated that he will be leaning his post with the Reds at the end of the current season
*leaving, apologies
Woops, just Jake White in the middle of a contract then
Yeah, and I personally can’t see him leaving the Brumbies