rossie wrote:

salmson wrote: Not as much as on the other provinces as (1) they class us as a private franchise (2) they have preceisely zero of our players on central contracts.

they do pick up the bills though and he who pays the piper tends to call the tune.

if former ireland coaches become unemployable in this country( or anywhere) then irfu will have a big problem. this may have some bearing on their attitude to the selection process.

im not a big fan of eos the personality but he has a decent cv.

question for those against him out there. if kidney lost the ireland gig after autumn int would you like to see him at connacht ? if the answer is no then irfu and pot future irish coaches have a problem.

no wonder kidney is hanging on to his job.

It's not unique to Ireland though Rossie, you very rarely (if ever in fact) see International coaches coming back down the tree. It just doesn't happen much because they are seen and often see themselves as having reached the pinnacle of their coaching career...

And no, I wouldn't want Kidney as Connacht coach either. Way too much baggage, and like O'Sullivan I just wouldn't be able to listen to the interviews without cringing...

The plus of a non-Irish coach is the lack of baggage they carry, take for example the directness of the recent statements in interviews by Penney & Anscombe recently. Would an Irish coach be so forward? Not likely really. Eric is as close to those lads as we're ever likely to see in Irish coaching circles because in Connacht Rugby terms he's bulletproof because of the commitment he's made on and off the pitch to Connacht and has been able to be much more "direct" than most Irish coaches...

salmson wrote: Not as much as on the other provinces as (1) they class us as a private franchise (2) they have preceisely zero of our players on central contracts.

they do pick up the bills though and he who pays the piper tends to call the tune.

if former ireland coaches become unemployable in this country( or anywhere) then irfu will have a big problem. this may have some bearing on their attitude to the selection process.

im not a big fan of eos the personality but he has a decent cv.

question for those against him out there. if kidney lost the ireland gig after autumn int would you like to see him at connacht ? if the answer is no then irfu and pot future irish coaches have a problem.

no wonder kidney is hanging on to his job.

overstrander wrote: Would never question Billy Glynn's devotion to the Connacht cause.

Also why should we think that just because someone comes from a foreign set-up that they are necessarily better, personally I don't like the idea of all four Irish provinces being coached by people who haven't come through the Irish system and I think that's what Billy is saying, if a better man for the job than an Irishman comes through the process then so be it, but I think it is a poor reflection for the regard we have for own coaching systems.

I wasn't questioning his devotion to the cause. I just don't see why the IRFU Irish Coach preference needs to be so publicly stated when it comes to us and not the other provinces. It's just reinforcing the old perceptions of us: 'ah sure it's only Connacht'/development for the rest province/poor relations etc etc... Gerry Thornley once described the IRFUs attitude to us as "institutionalized racism" which might be a bit strong. Or maybe not. I just want the best coach possible who will kick us on and continue the great work and huge strides taken in the last 2 seasons. I don't care if he's from Mars. If he's Irish great, but if he's Irish and not the best candidate why should we get stuck with him when the other provinces don't?

Would never question Billy Glynn's devotion to the Connacht cause.

Also why should we think that just because someone comes from a foreign set-up that they are necessarily better, personally I don't like the idea of all four Irish provinces being coached by people who haven't come through the Irish system and I think that's what Billy is saying, if a better man for the job than an Irishman comes through the process then so be it, but I think it is a poor reflection for the regard we have for own coaching systems.

i hope its the best coach who sends the cv gets it, if thats eddie o sullivan then i dont think its the end of the world.

as for leinster would be under presure to pick and irish coach next, they might be already thinking of mike ruddock.

not 100% about dan mcfarland. ok he knows connacht etc, but when we were questioning eric when we were losing and playng awful, most people were saying we need someone new and fresh who dont have history with the players. new slate etc

Not as much as on the other provinces as (1) they class us as a private franchise (2) they have preceisely zero of our players on central contracts.

salmson wrote: If we appoint a foreign coach, then the pressure on the IRFU to appoint an Irish coach when the next provincial post becomes available (Leinster - unless one of the new coaches at Munster/Ulster fall on their faces) will be huge. It'd suit them for us to go with an Irish coach.

The IRFU have only one place on the interview board though, Connacht have 3, so as long as our boys stick together (and pick the best candidate regardless of nationality) Mr. Glynn's opinions have no weight.

It won't be as cut and dry as majority rules on the panel. The IRFU will have to rubberstamp the appointment as with the other provinces. They could potentially exert huge pressure here.

If we appoint a foreign coach, then the pressure on the IRFU to appoint an Irish coach when the next provincial post becomes available (Leinster - unless one of the new coaches at Munster/Ulster fall on their faces) will be huge. It'd suit them for us to go with an Irish coach.

The IRFU have only one place on the interview board though, Connacht have 3, so as long as our boys stick together (and pick the best candidate regardless of nationality) Mr. Glynn's opinions have no weight.

Whoever gets appointed at Connacht, it should be with a view to the future. There should not be even the remotest hint of the cronyism that kept Michael Bradley in the job for six years too long, the appointment of Eddie O'Sullivan would be a massive backward step for Connacht and for that matter Irish Rugby and must not be allowed to happen.

We have to be careful with the expectations for Connacht, realistically whoever comes in is not going to be able to turn the province into HEC contenders given the resources we have. Personally I believe that if the current Assistant Coach Dan McFarland (a former playing colleague of Eric with Connacht) want's the job he should be given the opportunity to prove himself, a two year contract would give him the requisite time to establish himself in the new role and implement any changes he feels need to be made in coaching ethos or personnel. It would also ensure some continuity for the squad, which as we've seen under Eric has been strengthened and also brought on many young local and Irish players...

Very disappointing to hear Galwegian Billy Glynn pushing the Irish coach agenda, not surprising though. I don't recall their 'preference' being mentioned when the other 3 provinces made their recent appointments. The best man for the job should get the position regardless of where he's from. It'll be interesting to see who the IRFU representative on the panel is and exactly how much power he wields in the decision.

Applications must be in by the 1st of December, hoping to have somebody named by the end of January:

www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/irfu-chie...h-coach-3272859.html

Have to agree Parks was Brillant tonight... Something Connacht need a man with experience that has been there and done it all. He missed nothing. without him last night we would have been well beaten. And yes even though he is coming to the end of his career and Connacht might not be the biggest club he has played for he still acknowledged the support after the game(not just here to pick up a wage packet).

if this was a year later, with dan parks done his two years id give it to him.
tonight, he owned that pitch, lead it like a man, even at the end called him men over to the main stand to clap the home crowd, all followed but brett wilkison, (reminds me of fionn carrr)

parks has a huge passion for connacht, one year later, id be happy but its to soon, eddie you out there????

Tonight again showed the huge potential of the young players in this squad. Any ambitious coach out there will have to give serious thought to applying for the Connacht job, as there is a rare chance to inherit such a talented young squad and grow and develop with them.

I'm excited to see who ends up applying for the job

well he is touring up here in november with the maoris?!

Daryl Gibson has quit the Crusaders. any chance he could be coming here?