Former Ireland international Tom Tierney has said he believes there is a significant chance Ewan McKenzie, current bookies favourite for the vacant Ireland head coach job, “would be looking for total control” regarding staff selection and that demand “could cause the IRFU to rethink that option.”
McKenzie has expressed interest in the Ireland job and will finish in his current role, as head coach of the Queensland Reds, at the end of the Super Rugby season.
McKenzie told the Sydney Daily Telegraph, "I have said I am looking for coaching challenges at the next level and I am looking for whatever the possibilities are.
"It's the type of job I am interested in looking at but there have been no discussions.
"I have stated I would like the Wallabies job but it's all in the timing. You have to look around what's available when you're looking for a job. I have made it clear the challenge of coaching at that level is what interests me but there aren't many opportunities at Test level and you can't control the timing."
Tierney was speaking to Newstalk Breakfast this morning and discussed several of the potential candidates for the job – including why Harlequins director of rugby Conor O’Shea is playing a clever game by distancing himself from the role and how Leinster might handle the departure of Joe Schmidt.
Aside from talk of Declan Kidney and his replacement there was a look ahead to the weekend’s big European ties, with a particular focus on Munster and how the team is evolving under the tutelage of Rob Penney.
