IRELAND

Who will fill O`Sullivan`s shoes?

Thursday 20th March 2008

Early favourite: Will Declan Kidney be the next Ireland boss?

Eddie O'Sullivan's reign as Ireland coach has ended, and the hunt will soon begin for his successor.

We assess some of the leading candidates for the post:

Jake White

The mastermind of South Africa's World Cup triumph last autumn will surely top the Irish Rugby Football Union's wish-list - but getting him is another matter.

The future of England boss Brian Ashton remains in doubt and the in-demand White has already made it clear he would accept an invitation from the Six Nations runners-up.

But should that fail to materialise, he will need to look elsewhere and in international terms there are limited opportunities currently available for a coach of his standing.

Declan Kidney

Munster will be desperate to hold on to their head coach but Kidney is the early favourite to become the next Ireland boss.

The former school teacher's record with Munster - topped by their 2006 Heineken Cup crown - stands up to scrutiny and if the IRFU are to opt for an Irishman, he would be the obvious choice.

But he left Leinster in acrimonious circumstances after failing to convince some of the province's Test stars and it remains to be seen whether his approach with Munster would translate successfully to Ireland.

Alan Gaffney

Due to step down as Saracens director of rugby at the end of the season, Gaffney will join Leinster as backs coach in August.

Gaffney has been a success at underachieving Saracens, whom he guided to a fourth-place finish in the Guinness Premiership last season, and would be a safe pair of hands.

He is hardly a long-term solution - the Australian is entering the twilight of his career - but would be the perfect choice if a stop-gap was required.

Would be a popular choice if he could be wrestled away from Leinster and Saracens, although he could join the Ireland coaching team at a later date as part-time backs coach.

Pat Howard

Guided Leicester to a Premiership and EDF Energy Cup double in 2007 before returning to Australia to manage his family's pharmaceutical company.

His skills were in high demand in his homeland, however, and he soon became general manager of the Australian Rugby Union's high performance unit.

Bright and a superb man manager, he will be coveted by the IRFU who are eager to appoint a forward-thinking coach after years of O'Sullivan's conservatism.

Perhaps most importantly, Howard is now available having stepped down from his job with the ARU.

Wayne Smith

Enjoyed a productive spell at Northampton where his impact was not gauged in terms of silverware but his success in invigorating a club in the doldrums.

Smith also guided the Canterbury Crusaders to Super 12 glory in two successive years, but he has endured a chequered Test career.

Appointed New Zealand coach in 1999, he was deposed in 2001 following a poor Tri-Nations.

Linked up with Graham Henry as backs coach for his second stint with the All Blacks but that ended in failure with a quarter-final exit at last year's World Cup.

Michael Cheika

The well-travelled former Australia Under-21 international impressed during his first two seasons at Leinster, which included a Heineken Cup semi-final in 2006.

But the province have faded slightly this season and Cheika's stock has dropped accordingly, although not enough to stop him earning a new-two year contract earlier this week.

Matt Williams

Enjoyed a successful spell at Leinster. But Williams' reputation has been tarnished by a failed term as Scotland coach, during which he presided over just three wins in 17 games over two years.

Recently appointed Ulster boss, Williams is unlikely to seek fresh pastures after making an encouraging start to life at Ravenhill.

Mike Ruddock

The Worcester boss has emerged as the favourite with some bookmakers, and he certainly has the pedigree at international level having led his native Wales to a surprise 2005 Grand Slam win in his only season in charge.However, he has struggled to transform his current club's fortunes, with the Warriors lying second bottom of the Premiership.