When looking at Munster’s recent Heineken Cup campaigns, it's hard to see past Declan Kidney being an integral part of it all.

Some may argue that the new Irish coach could be famed as one of the greatest coaches of all time. With a record with Munster of two final wins out of four in eight years, it's hard to believe an international coaching job didn't come knocking at his door in earlier years.

However, now Kidney must say farewell to the recently crowned champions of Europe, and embark on a new challenge and elevate Ireland to the same standard of greatness as Munster.

'Even with Munster’s latest Heineken Cup final performance being branded as bland and boring, I don't think the Irish public will mind all that much if trophies come their way'


There's no time for him to get complacent after an extremely disappointing World Cup campaign and, to be honest, poor Six Nations campaign. The Irish public will be demanding an uplifting summer tour.

I hope, though, that the Irish public aren't predicting any miracles as the new national coach will have to lead his men into two of the hardest places to tour, Australia and New Zealand. And with bonding a new team, along with the task of defeating the All Blacks and the Wallabies in their own back yard, this challenge to some may be anything but simple.

Kidney may think this fixture will favour his side, though, as this past season the Super 14 has been a testing zone for the new ELVs. So how the two Southern Hemisphere sides will react to playing under normal rules, no one can know.

Still, I think it would be a lot more profitable for Irish fans to spend their time looking forward to the next Six Nations because you know that eventually Kidney will be able to make this Ireland side play.

Even with Munster’s latest Heineken Cup final performance being branded as bland and boring, I don't think the Irish public will mind all that much if trophies come their way.

The likelihood of Ireland playing a boring game with the backs they have is unlikely, anyway. With the likes of Brian O'Driscoll, Geordan Murphy, Robert Kearney and Ronan O'Gara (possibly in the form of his life) firing on all cylinders, Kidney will be able to create great performances.