JOB SPEC: Win over 75% of your games, reach the knock-outs of the Champions Cup, bring home a title a season, rest your best players for 40% of games, compete with Top 14 clubs operating on twice your budget and, most importantly, play with flair.
Form an orderly queue lads, and ladies.
Matt O’Connor will pack his bags and leave Leinster a year earlier than planned. The province decided he was not the right man for the job and he mutually consented with them.
Leo Cullen is in temporary charge of a squad that does not officially break for summer until May 31. Steady hand on the tiller for 10 days but not much chance to press one’s case for the top job.
A quick tot through the possible names of replacements for the Australian throws up at least a dozen names. Out of hand, and hoping not to be scorched on this, we are ruling out Girvan Dempsey [Leinster’s academy chief], Les Kiss [committed to Ulster after the World Cup], and the recently retired Shane Jennings.
Let us look at the other men that would be confident of taking Leinster back to – and we are borrowing this from Ian Madigan – the Holy Land.
Conor O’Shea
The former Leinster back played in the province’s first ever Heineken Cup campaign – he was loaned back from London Irish. Impressed at the Exiles following a career-ending injury and was brought on-board by the RFU to help with the scouting and development of young players. Guided Harlequins to Aviva Premiership success and was linked with the Ireland job after Declan Kidney was given the heave-ho, in 2013.
Chances of it happening: Within the realms of possibility. O’Shea has been in England for the past 18 years and has finally seen the financial shackles released at Quins. Has Jamie Roberts, Adam Jones and Tim Visser coming for next season BUT the club has failed to qualify for the Champions Cup.
Ewen McKenzie
‘Link’ was the early favourite for the Ireland job, after Declan Kidney left, but he got his No.1 choice – the Wallabies. It all started so well for the man who guided Queensland Reds to Super Rugby success in 2011, including a caning for Joe Schmidt’s Ireland in November 2013. The wheels came off last season as he lost the dressing room and was forced into denying an extra-marital affair before eventually resigning.
Chances of it happening: Pretty high. McKenzie is available and currently sits atop the list of bookies’ candidates. A heady mixture of no-nonsense gruff and a guy that loves playmakers.
Jono Gibbes
Joe Schmidt’s droll, wise-cracking partner during Leinster’s golden years. The Kiwi was credited with turning Leinster’s pack into a powerhouse unit and improving up the club’s breakdown skills. Wanted the Leinster job when Schmidt signalled his intentions to take up the Ireland job. Leinster went with O’Connor and Gibbes headed off to Clermont to take up an assistant coach role.
Chances of it happening: Reasonable. Two years on, could Gibbes show the Leinster hierarchy that he is the man to trust?
Brian O’Driscoll
The province’s greatest ever player always said there was a chance he would come back. Has shown, on BT Sport’s demos, that he still possesses that acute tactical awareness and attacking nous.
Chances of it happening: One more year! If O’Connor had lasted until 2016, O’Driscoll may have jumped at the chance. As it stands, the former Ireland captain may be content to remain in the corporate and punditry game. After 16 seasons at the top-end of the game, he could do with easing up before dabbling in coaching.
Bernard Jackman
Mr Blue Blood himself. Jackman spent most of his playing career trying to get to Leinster and eventually got there in time for the Michael Cheika era. Won a league and Heineken Cup before retiring and taking up coaching roles with Clontarf and DCU. Remote-coached Grenoble’s forwards for a year before gradually advancing to head coach of a team that consistently punch above their weight in the Top 14.
Chances of it happening: Strong. Grenoble have challenged for Champions Cup qualification in the past two seasons but their shallow squad has twice been stretched and they have fallen short. A big fan of attacking, fearless rugby, ‘Birch’s’ Grenoble were second highest try-scorers [behind Toulon] midway through this season, before a losing skid took hold. Highly regarded.
Jake White
Won a World Cup with South Africa in 2007 and has been tipping along nicely – mixing punditry with coaching roles – ever since. His Brumbies side turned the British & Irish Lions over in 2013. Currently a ‘consultant’ to Montpellier.
Chances of it happening: Outside, but not by much. White has extended his consultancy deal with Montpellier for two more years but would relish another big coaching job. Another motivator, with a dictatorial streak, could do wonders.
Mark McCall
As a player, McCall was denied a Heineken Cup win [in 1999] through injury. As a coach, he led Ulster to league success, in 2006. Moved on in 2008 and eventually became head coach at Saracens, his next port of call. Has taken the club to two semis and one European Cup final in the last three years.
Chances of it happening: Good, if Leinster pursue him. McCall may feel he has taken Sarries as far as he can and be up for a new challenge.
Ronan O’Gara
The Munster legend has been coaching [defence, skills and kicking] at Racing Métro since he retired in 2013. Has grown into his role and taken on greater responsibility with each passing quarter.
Chances of it happening: Fanciful. The odds of O’Gara landing a head coaching role at Munster, where Anthony Foley is doing a decent job, are currently slim. O’Gara is dyed-in-the-wool Munster but so was Declan Kidney when he took the job in 2004.
Pat Lam
It makes a change from linking Robbie Henshaw to Leinster anyway. Lam has instilled a real sense of belief in Connacht and added some great attacking plays to a squad that often relied on fighting spirit. Will lead his team into a Champions Cup playoff [part one] against Gloucester on Friday.
Chances of it happening: Over Willie Ruane’s alive and irate body. The province would fight tooth and nail to retain Lam’s services ans, if back into a corner, make him fulfill his contract, which runs until June 2016.
