Krusty the Clown is Neil Francis’ pick to replace the current Leinster coach

Sideshow Bob as backs coach maybe

Kevin McGillicuddy

Krusty the Clown is Neil Francis’ pick to replace the current Leinster coach

Maybe Neil should apply for the job

In case you are from a different planet Neil Francis really does not like the current Leinster coach Matt O’Connor.

The former Ireland international has used his column in the Sunday Independent to attack the former Leicester man for Leinster’s limp performances both at home and in Europe this season.

The diatribe comes after the reigning Pro 12 champions limped to an unimpressive win over Treviso last Friday, while their season will end without any silverware as a result of missing out on the play-off’s as well as falling at the semi final stage of the Champions Cup.

Francis has called for O’Connor to leave the province before today, but he’s never invoked the power of the Simpsons to illustrate his frustration with the Australian

‘After Friday’s arcane performance against Benetton Treviso, we have four new candidates who are qualified on the basis that they could do a better job than O’Connor did on Friday night. Krusty the Clown, Panti Bliss, Pee Wee Herman and the Grand Old Duke of York could not do any worse than the shambles we saw at the RDS.’

‘If it has come to pass that Leinster are reduced to fumbling their way past a side like Trevsio at home, so that they can be assured of Champions Cup competition again next year, then we have reached the low watermark in Leinster’s halcyon dynasty.’

Francis feels that the future under O’Connor is bleak if the performances in this year’s domestic and European campaigns are any indication:

‘The error count, the handling mistakes, the aimless kicking, the inability to give and take a pass even in wet conditions, the evisceration of their tight platform in the Pro12, the mistakes that are made week in, week out without recognition or correction. Do we think that a new season or the June break will mend things, give management time to think things through, maybe understand that their strategy or the way that they want to play the game just isn’t working?’

Leinster rugby fans will probably not be too keen either on the comparison of their sides current form with that of a Premier League football team who has lost eight of their last nine games,

‘In one season, Matt the Thrasher has turned Leinster into the Newcastle United of the Pro12 and asking him to fall on his sword at this stage might present a problem – he could knock the sword on or miss the spot completely.’

‘The most disappointing thing revolves around next season and the lack of hope. In this instance hope is merely disappointment deferred. Leinster must now watch as Munster and Ulster vie for home ties and the fervent hope that an Irish side can win the Pro12.’