RUGBY:THE IRFU will be in no hurry to appoint a successor to Eddie O'Sullivan, who formally resigned as Ireland coach on Wednesday night. The priority for the union now is to first decide upon the job specification before beginning a search in earnest for O'Sullivan's successor, writes JOHN O'SULLIVAN.
There is no specific timeline to appoint a new national coach and the IRFU will not be rushed into a decision predicated on finding a candidate ahead of Ireland's game against the Barbarians at Kingsholm on May 17th and the subsequent summer tour Test matches against New Zealand and Australia.
The priority appears to be establishing the parameters of the position before drawing up a shortlist of suitable coaches. Primary issues could include whether the new Ireland coach would have great technical ability or whether he would fulfil a role similar to former England World Cup winning supremo Clive Woodward, who man-managed a highly qualified backroom team.
The IRFU must decide whether they are willing to give the suitable candidate carte blanche in selecting his management team of associate coaches and sundry personnel and whether the union would demand that some or all were Irish.
A commonsense approach would underline the value of having clearly identifiable attributes required for the Ireland coaching position before matching them against a list of names.
The appointments committee of the IRFU, which consists of Pat Whelan, Neil Jackson and Noel Murphy, may meet as early as next Tuesday to begin the process.
Speculating pertaining to O'Sullivan's possible successor has already seen a shortlist of candidates thrust into the spotlight - but it is the bookmakers rather than union who have compiled that list.
The issue of Ireland's upcoming end-of-season matches is not going to necessarily hasten a decision. Sources close to the IRFU suggest an interim coach could take charge of that particular assignment.
There are a few obvious candidates in Munster's Declan Kidney and Ulster's Matt Williams - assuming Connacht coach Michael Bradley would continue his position as coach to Ireland A and take them to the Churchill Cup in the USA and Canada this summer - who have the experience and pedigree.
Kidney has been a highly successful coach at pretty much every level up to the Test arena, while Williams previously coached Scotland. The fact the contracts of the current backroom team are under renegotiation wouldn't preclude a three-month extension being offered Niall O'Donovan to take charge of the summer tour.
He fulfilled this remit when O'Sullivan was involved with the 2005 Lions in New Zealand. O'Donovan took charge of an Ireland squad on a two-Test tour of Japan.
It should also be noted that Kidney and O'Donovan worked very successfully together at Munster. Any interim coach would in all probability select the touring squad.
The conjecture on O'Sullivan's successor has already seen a couple of coaches caught in the bookies' net of speculation look to clarify their respective positions.
Former Leinster and Wales 2005 Grand Slam winning coach Mike Ruddock said in a radio interview that while he was flattered to be considered for the Ireland job, he was committed to his current position with Worcester, which has two seasons left to run.
Leinster may have to issue a clarification on Alan Gaffney's impending role with the province - he signed a two-year deal that begins next season - which is that of a technical consultant, rather than backs coach as intimated. He retains an interest in the Ireland vacancy.
Players' opinions have also been canvassed, with Ireland scrumhalf Eoin Reddan very taken by the credentials of former Leicester coach Pat Howard. Reddan said of the Australian: "Pat Howard sounds like an excellent candidate. He almost took Leicester to the treble last year.
"He has a good track record and you only need look at what he's done at Leicester to see how talented he is. Geordan (Murphy) told me he's a good coach, a good guy and great man manager with lots of fantastic ideas. These are exciting times for Ireland. There's a chance for the IRFU to go out and get the best in the world, which they should do and will do.
"We need a man who will really inspire and excite the players that we have and push Ireland to new levels." Reddan also praised O'Sullivan's time in charge, highlighting his achievements.
The plaudits for the outgoing Ireland coach were expressed more extensively in an official IRFU statement quoting chief executive Philip Browne which read: "The IRFU respects the decision by Eddie O'Sullivan to resign as head coach to the senior Ireland rugby team.
"In accepting his wish to step down, I want to emphasise the high regard the union has for him and the achievements he attained during his reign in office.
"His record as Ireland's most successful coach is his proud legacy and all of us in Irish rugby are grateful to him for the many memorable moments and achievements our senior Irish players and squads attained during his coaching tenure.
"I want to congratulate and thank him for that contribution to Irish rugby and to wish him every success in his future career. The matter of other management personnel will be dealt with as part of the RBS Six Nations review. The IRFU will now address the vacant position of head coach."
In an Olympic year it appears the hunt for the new Ireland coach might require the endurance of the marathon rather than the fast twitch reaction of a sprinter.
