What's going on with Kidney?

Munster. Redoubtable, resilient, reliable Munster. They provided the backbone of Irish rugby for most of the noughties, and at the heart of their success was Mr Declan Kidney. How we welcomed his appointment to the Ireland job in 2008, a solid and proven antidote to the perceived malaises that had crept in under Eddie O'Sullivan, typified by the car crash of a World Cup the year before and the subsequent inglorious 6 Nations.

For a while, it looked as if all our prayers had been answered.

But then things started to go awry. Since winning the Slam in 2009, Ireland's record under Kidney is won 14, lost 16, including a defeat to NZ Maori. Declan Kidney will not need to be reminded that Eddie O'Sullivan never had a negative win-loss ratio. In fact if one took the time to compare Ireland's fortunes under the two coaches O'Sullivan emerges with credit in almost every area, statistically speaking. Of those 14 wins obtained since the beginning of 2010, 5 are against Italy, 1 against the USA, 1 against Russia, and 1 against Samoa. There have been precisely 2 great performances, against England in 2011 and Australia at the WC. In fact that last statement holds true for the entire Kidney era, with the possible inclusion of the home win over France in 2009.

We go into Sunday's match with almost no expectations, and that is possibly one of the most depressing manifestations of the sickness that afflicts our national team. Can anyone remember the last time we played anyone bar New Zealand and expected to lose convincingly? Kidney MUST shoulder the greater part of the responsibility for this.

Also, great website guys.