Functioning well with only one Kidney

Ireland’s international rugby squad created history, last year, by winning the Six Nations championship. Outright victory had eluded Ireland in the past, despite winning the ‘Triple Crown’ several times.

Along with a selection of tougher than tough players, one man stands out as having a strong bearing on Ireland’s Grand Slam success. That man is Declan Kidney. The quietly spoken Corkonian has spent a lifetime devoted to rugby and can point to considerable success. In the late 1990s he was involved with Munster and coached them in the Heineken Cup where they reached two finals.

In 2002 Kidney moved away from Munster rugby and worked with the Ireland management, alongside Eddie O’Sullivan, but left after only two years. From 2005 to 2008 he returned to coach Munster where they won the Heineken Cup in 2006 and 2008. No doubt those in the top echelons of the IRFU had faith in his skills when, following the departure of O’Sullivan in 2008, Kidney was named Ireland coach.

Leaving Munster in 2008, especially given their success, must have been hard but Kidney doesn’t let emotion cloud his judgement. “That might sound cold. I’d hate to say it’s a skill. It’s a necessity. You have to do it. It’s a facet of life – how do paramedics keep their cool at accidents, for instance?” *

Kidney feels that Hurling and Gaelic Football has helped some of the players he’s coached. Physically Irish rugby sides may not be as bulky as other nations but they are undoubtedly extremely fit and this Irish coach is able to get optimum value from the players. Denis Leamy is cited as benefitting from a GAA background.

Positive encouragement of his players is Kidney’s approach to games and that seems to have worked well for Ireland. Like a Wenger or a Ferguson, Declan Kidney has immersed himself in his sport. He has lifted Irish rugby to lofty heights and is modest and genteel in accepting the praise that comes his way: “It’s all about the team and the players. They’re the ones doing all the work.” *

With this year’s Six Nations only weeks away it is heartening that Ireland’s rugby squad have a coach as clever as Kidney. The stakes are high in 2010 and we mustn’t fool ourselves that we’ll be at the top forever. But if anyone can keep us at this level it is Declan Kidney. So before you start giving out about Ireland this year, take some time to consider the input from a man with an impeccable record and ask yourself: ‘Could I achieve as much as that?’

* (Quotes taken from an interview: www.michaelmoynihan.wordpress.com c.2009)