Astonishingly, he was rumoured to be in the stands, at both the recent Test matches against the All Blacks and the Wallabies. Like England have – why send your national team into the cauldron of Southern Hemisphere rugby without a first-choice coach?  Why sack the old if the new is not ready to immediately take control?

This is an Irish team where, realistically, it is hard to tell what exactly the problem is.  Take. in contrast, the All Black team. They are, and have always been, one of the strongest nations.  But with these impressive records and A remarkable history, they should have won more World Cups – but have not.  Add to this coaching spectacles and the expectation of a nation, and this is why the All Blacks have a bit of a, let’s say, an identity crisis.

 But what of Ireland rugby?  Less than 12 months ago they were entering the World Cup as the dark horses. They had recently toured New Zealand and given the All Blacks in their prime a close run. They had come close to winning the Six Nations and had recorded three Triple crowns in four years (victory over the other home unions). 

With Leinster and Munster club rugby strong, and having world-class players such as Brian O’Driscoll, Paul O’Connell and Ronan O’Gara, this was probably the strongest team the Emerald Isle had ever compiled.

From 2002, when Ireland compiled ten straight victories – their best-ever run – this was a team becoming a world power. This culminated in the year before the World Cup, where the Irish recorded a remarkable triumvirate of victories – over the Wallabies and the Springboks, before inflicting the heaviest defeat ever on the Pacific Islanders (the Pacific hybrid of the British Lions).

Despite starting 2007 well, winning all their Six Nations games except for a narrow three three-point loss to the French, cracks started to appear. A weaker Ireland team toured Argentina – a mistake to send a depleted team in a World Cup year – and were duly beaten twice. They then played Scotland in a World Cup warm-up.  Scotland. Ireland had not lost to the Scots since 2001 and had established a seven-game winning streak over them - but this was a powerful-looking Scots team, and they overpowered the Irish pack to record a remarkable 31-21 victory. 

The Irish were then fortuitous to beat the Italians, who again overwhelmed them in the forwards only to lose by three points.

The World Cup was then a disaster. Realistically, outside of the All Blacks, this was the biggest failure of any team. Ireland struggled pass Namibia and Georgia, realistically third-tier nations – both outside the Top 15 of the world.  They were then exposed by the French and Argentinians, both units inflicting heavy defeats on the Irish to send them crashing out of the tournament.

This year’s Six Nations was not much better – with only wins against Italy and Scotland propping them up in a fourth-place finish – their worst placing in nearly ten years.

This resulted in coach Eddie O’Sullivan falling on his sword, after having his contract extended through to 2012 in the World Cup year – as well as clause that would have given him option to take leave as British Lions coach in 2009 (a position that a year ago, many thought he would be offered).

Enter Declan Kidney. The outgoing Munster coach had taken the premier Irish domestic team to four Heineken Cup finals, claiming the Northern Hemisphere’s domestic championship in 2006 and 2008. He also enjoyed a brief stint with Leinster, and was O’Sullivan’s assistant in 2002 through to 2004. Earlier, he had established a considerable record with the Irish youth teams – having coached the Under 19s to World Cup glory in 1998.

Kidney will take control of a side who have enjoyed their greatest-ever period of success, being ranked as the second-strongest nation in world rugby just over two years ago – but now languishing at eighth.  But the caveat that he not coach the team on their tour to New Zealand and Australia was odd at best. 

Luckily for both Kidney and Ireland, they acquitted themselves well, and on the back of Munster’s success, probably looked as good as they have in their recent years.  They lost by ten points to the All Blacks in a game in which scores were even until the 60th minutes. And they were their own worst enemies against the Wallabies, going down by six points in a game they could and should have won.

The problem for Kidney now is that he takes control of the most settled team in world rugby, but with little talent underneath the nation’s elite 15.  He now has an Irish off-season to stamp his style on a team that have long exhibited a style similar to his Munster operation.

Ireland have been in season for 53 weeks, their national team winning just seven of 14 recent Tests. They have shown mettle in their last two Tests, but the challenge for Kidney is not only ensuring that he translates his style to the team, but also ensures that they are mentally prepared for the mighty Southern Hemisphere powers when they come for the Northern winter.