Kidney selection a mistake - Knox
by Oli Skehan , 13 May 2008
The decision by the IRFU to replace Eddie O'Sullivan with current Munster coach Declan Kidney was the wrong choice according to departing Leinster backs coach, David Knox.
"It's a big mistake to choose Declan Kidney as the new coach," the Australian told the Irish Independent.
"The Irish international team badly needed a foreign coach. After the Eddie O'Sullivan era, they wanted someone to test these guys, show them a new way to play.
He went on to say: "The Munster people think he [Kidney] is a messiah but I just don't understand that."
Knox insists that Ireland's needs would have been better served by an outsider.
"They haven't evolved as a side. A guy like Jake White or Nick Mallett would have done that. You only have to look at the Italian backs this year to see that.
"They have played better and actually produced some good stuff; better that a lot of other teams. Their results weren't too good but at least there was some evolution there. There's been none with Ireland."
Knox will be replaced by current Saracens boss Alan Gaffney at the province next season.