Kidney worries about rankings and not contract talks

Ireland coach Declan Kidney has played down speculation surrounding his contract by insisting that his primary concern is moving up the world rankings.

By Declan Whooley

Entering into his final year of his contract, the former Munster and Leinster coach has insisted that his focus is moving up the rankings ahead of the Guinness Autumn internationals.

“My situation doesn’t matter, the only thing that matters is that we do well,” he is quoted as saying in today’s national papers. “Coaches are the same as players, you’re here for a while so you make the most of everything.”

With the December draw for the 2015 World Cup in mind, Ireland need to at least consolidate their current position of seventh. Matches against South Africa and Argentina will test the strength of this Irish side, with the Pumas lurking one place behind and Scotland looking to jump up a place also.

“Where Irish rugby stands in world rugby has been, traditionally, we’ve gone from third to eighth/ninth since rankings came in and we’ve got to fight for every ranking point we get and that’s what we’ll look to do in November,” the Cork man added.

Kidney concedes that performances have dipped since the Grand Slam in 2009 but is confident his players will show their true form in November.

“Fellas can either stick their heads in the sand and ignore it, or we just bounce back from it,” he said.

Let’s hope it is the latter that rings true when the Springboks and Pumas roll into town.