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2024 Guinness Six Nations
Ireland
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<blockquote data-quote="snoopy snoopy dog dog" data-source="post: 492475" data-attributes="member: 13611"><p>The easiest thing to say is replace the coach and start again. If you're doing to get rid of Declan Kidney though, who can realistically replace him? The names which immediately come to mind are Joe Schmidt, Nick Mallett and Wayne Smith but all three would be risks. Schmidt has spent less than two (albeit extremely successful) seasons as a head coach, Mallett has done nothing of note for a long time and Smith is coming off an extended spell as an assistant. I think Ireland should stick with Kidney until 2013 with certain conditions attached.</p><p></p><p>1. <strong>Overhaul the backroom coaching team</strong></p><p><strong></strong>Alan Gaffney was a disaster. Mark Tainton is a disaster. Gert Smal hasn't got his pack playing to their potential. Only Les Kiss has been a success but he's now double jobbing as both backs coach and defence coach. </p><p></p><p>Look at the kicking stats of Leinster's frontline kickers Jonny Sexton, Fergus McFadden, Isa Nacewa and Ian Madigan. They don't miss! Richie Murphy has done a phenomenal job getting those guys up to scratch because they were always so prolific in front of goal. Murphy should be promoted to national kicking coach.</p><p></p><p> In the pack, the set piece is the main problem. Dorian West has done a brilliant job building Northampton's scrum with previously unheralded players. There's our new head of scrummaging. If Anthony Foley doesn't get the Munster hjead coach gig, bring him onto the national coaching ticket too since he's done a fine job reigniting Munster's pack.</p><p></p><p>Backs coach is a difficult one. Maybe trying to add Wayne Smith to the coaching team as assistant head coach responsible for building an attacking game is the way to go. It would prime him for the head coaching gig in 2013.</p><p></p><p>2. <strong>More daring selection policy</strong></p><p><strong></strong>Form players aren't being picked. Kidney is more interested in maintaining the players he knows than in rewarding form players. I hope he has the balls to call Felix Jones, Simon Zebo, Eoin O'Malley, Ian Madigan, Paul Marshall, Dan Tuohy, Devin Toner and Peter O'Mahony (amongst others) into the senior squad for the summer tour against New Zealand <em>and use them</em>.</p><p></p><p>3. <strong>Don't be afraid to let internationals leave the country</strong></p><p><strong></strong>What harm has Mike Phillips moving to Bayonne done to the Welsh team? None I wager. It has freed up a spot in the Ospreys team for Rhys Webb. Webb is also an international now. I think allowing certain players leave the country can help our national team.</p><p></p><p>Take the shambolic Irish scrum against England for example. It fell apart completely when Tom Court, a loosehead primarily, was forced to play tighthead. Ireland have Healy, Ross, Court (as a loosehead), Buckle if we're badly stuck and nobody else. If, for example, Mike Ross and Cian Healy are offered big contracts by foreign clubs, they should be encouraged to move. They'll still start elsewhere and their departure will free up places for more Irish props to start for Leinster on a more regular basis. That will boost Ireland's playing pool. Likewise players like Gordon D'arcy, Donncha O'Callaghan, Paddy Wallace and Peter Stringer shouldn't be overpaid to remain here when there are adequate replacements for them and they'll still be viable international options if they play abroad.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="snoopy snoopy dog dog, post: 492475, member: 13611"] The easiest thing to say is replace the coach and start again. If you're doing to get rid of Declan Kidney though, who can realistically replace him? The names which immediately come to mind are Joe Schmidt, Nick Mallett and Wayne Smith but all three would be risks. Schmidt has spent less than two (albeit extremely successful) seasons as a head coach, Mallett has done nothing of note for a long time and Smith is coming off an extended spell as an assistant. I think Ireland should stick with Kidney until 2013 with certain conditions attached. 1. [B]Overhaul the backroom coaching team [/B]Alan Gaffney was a disaster. Mark Tainton is a disaster. Gert Smal hasn't got his pack playing to their potential. Only Les Kiss has been a success but he's now double jobbing as both backs coach and defence coach. Look at the kicking stats of Leinster's frontline kickers Jonny Sexton, Fergus McFadden, Isa Nacewa and Ian Madigan. They don't miss! Richie Murphy has done a phenomenal job getting those guys up to scratch because they were always so prolific in front of goal. Murphy should be promoted to national kicking coach. In the pack, the set piece is the main problem. Dorian West has done a brilliant job building Northampton's scrum with previously unheralded players. There's our new head of scrummaging. If Anthony Foley doesn't get the Munster hjead coach gig, bring him onto the national coaching ticket too since he's done a fine job reigniting Munster's pack. Backs coach is a difficult one. Maybe trying to add Wayne Smith to the coaching team as assistant head coach responsible for building an attacking game is the way to go. It would prime him for the head coaching gig in 2013. 2. [B]More daring selection policy [/B]Form players aren't being picked. Kidney is more interested in maintaining the players he knows than in rewarding form players. I hope he has the balls to call Felix Jones, Simon Zebo, Eoin O'Malley, Ian Madigan, Paul Marshall, Dan Tuohy, Devin Toner and Peter O'Mahony (amongst others) into the senior squad for the summer tour against New Zealand [I]and use them[/I]. 3. [B]Don't be afraid to let internationals leave the country [/B]What harm has Mike Phillips moving to Bayonne done to the Welsh team? None I wager. It has freed up a spot in the Ospreys team for Rhys Webb. Webb is also an international now. I think allowing certain players leave the country can help our national team. Take the shambolic Irish scrum against England for example. It fell apart completely when Tom Court, a loosehead primarily, was forced to play tighthead. Ireland have Healy, Ross, Court (as a loosehead), Buckle if we're badly stuck and nobody else. If, for example, Mike Ross and Cian Healy are offered big contracts by foreign clubs, they should be encouraged to move. They'll still start elsewhere and their departure will free up places for more Irish props to start for Leinster on a more regular basis. That will boost Ireland's playing pool. Likewise players like Gordon D'arcy, Donncha O'Callaghan, Paddy Wallace and Peter Stringer shouldn't be overpaid to remain here when there are adequate replacements for them and they'll still be viable international options if they play abroad. [/QUOTE]
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