International
Reddan hopes for Howard
EOIN Reddan is thrilled by the
idea of Pat Howard becoming the
next Ireland coach after looking
to Wales for inspiration on what
a new management team can
achieve.
Former Leicester coach and
Wallaby centre Howard has been
installed as the bookies'
favourite to succeed Eddie O'-
Sullivan, who resigned on
Wednesday night.
Howard, who quit the Tigers
after guiding them to a Premiership
and EDF Energy Cup double
last season, is currently employed
as the manager of the
Australian Rugby Football
Union's high performance unit.
The 34-year-old is reportedly
poised to step down from the post
in order to spend more time with
his family, dampening prospects
of a move to Lansdowne Road.
But Reddan's interest has been
fired by a discussion with Ireland
team-mate Geordan Murphy,
who played under and alongside
Howard at Welford Road.
Pat Howard sounds like an excellent
candidate. He almost took
Leicester to the treble last year,''
the Wasps scrum-half said.
He nearly pulled it off but we
beat Leicester in the Heineken
Cup final. Geordan told me he's
a good coach, a good guy and
great man manager with lots of
fantastic ideas.''
Reddan, Ireland's first choice
scrum-half since the World Cup,
has urged the Irish RFU to act decisively
while making sure they
appoint the best man for the job.
The important thing is to get
on with it. It would be great to get
someone who can take us forward,''
he said.
That's what happened seven
years ago with Eddie - he took us
forward - and now we need the
same again.
These are exciting times for
Ireland. There's a chance for the
IRFU to go out and get the best
in the world.
We need a man who will really
inspire and excite the players
that we have and push Ireland to
new levels. We definitely have the
players to achieve great things.''
Ireland need look only to
Grand Slam champions Wales for
evidence of the galvanising effect
a new coaching team can
have on a side in the doldrums.
The Welsh endured a dismal
World Cup last autumn yet six
months later completed a RBS 6
Nations clean sweep with virtually
the same players.
New head coach Warren Gatland
and his assistant Shaun Edwards
and Rob Howley have been
credited with their astonishing
revival.
9:05am Friday 21st March 2008
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