John Kirwan's coaching contract extended by the Blues

[Shaggy]

Good to see they are giving their coaching staff some time to turn the teams fortunes around at the Blues

... as this Stuff website article confirms, John Kirwan's contract has been extended until the end of 2015

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...n-Kirwan-gets-contract-extension-at-the-Blues

Sir John Kirwan is in this thing for the long haul with the Blues coach having his contract extended until the end of 2015.

New Zealand Rugby announced today they had re-signed Kirwan and assistant coach Grant Doorey for the 2015 Super Rugby season.

They were both first appointed to the Blues last year.

NZRU General Manager Professional Rugby Neil Sorensen said the game here was fortunate to have former greats still contributing to the game as coaches.
"JK is a straight shooter and a 'true blues' man who does not leave anyone wondering what he's thinking. We're looking forward to seeing what he does with the Blues in 2014 and 2015," Sorensen said.

Blues chairman Tony Carter said the board was unanimous in its view to offer contract extensions to both Kirwan and Doorey.
"We have seen enough during their tenure so far to believe they are integral to turning the Blues into one of Super Rugby's powerhouses."
Kirwan said he was "trying to build something here" and had no hesitation committing to another year.

"I've loved every day of this job - it's a team and region that I'm incredibly passionate about so I'm really happy to get another season to keep building on the work we've been doing."

Doorey said: "It's nice to have the franchise think you're doing a good job in driving the team in the right direction. We're really motivated to make the Blues successful and the fact they've given us the time it may take is very important."

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I like Kirwan but he has made some howlers at the blues. Like releasing Anscombe.

 

[FlukeArtist]

Kirwan seems like a really good bloke.

BUT... I question resigning the guy before this season has even really started.

If the Blues don't make it into the top 4, you have to consider this season to be a failure.
There is no if, ands, or buts about that.
Kirwan himself said that last year.

Why would you re-appoint him before any assessment of this season can be made?

 

[Draggs]

Really? Don't rate him really, his record is hardly inspiring; Italy didn't really improve, and Japan has gained for in one year of Jones than the four of Kirwan.

 

[tenpm]

He hasn't been good to the Blues; I get that you can't turn a team around in one or two seasons, but he makes weird decisions that hurt the team. He messed up his first-five choices (still not over Anscombe), and I wonder what might have been if he stuck to his usual starters for the Bulls game last year - they were doing well before the rookies lost them that game and they never got their momentum back.

 

[Shaggy]

Really? Don't rate him really, his record is hardly inspiring; Italy didn't really improve, and Japan has gained for in one year of Jones than the four of Kirwan.

Yes ... well no one has really done that well with Italy, have they? ... Japan seemed to go pretty well at the RWC with Kirwan at the helm ... maybe it was something for Eddie Jones to build on?

... anyway, I think Kirwan really identifies with the Blues region, and seems (with some exceptions) to play/recruit local talent, which I think is important to a region like the Blues

... I guess well see where he's at at the end of the season ... I liked the style of play in their last match (even if they did beat my Crusaders)

 

[tenpm]

Japan's RWC campaign was considered a disappointment actually, JK threw in a lot of foreigners and sacrificed the All Blacks game for the sake of beating both Tonga and Canada - which they failed to do. Their loss to Tonga was forgivable, but the game against Canada was one they should have and could have won.

 

[Shaggy]

Japan's RWC campaign was considered a disappointment actually, JK threw in a lot of foreigners and sacrificed the All Blacks game for the sake of beating both Tonga and Canada - which they failed to do. Their loss to Tonga was forgivable, but the game against Canada was one they should have and could have won.

... considered disappointing by who?, ... in terms of results, the only time they have actually won a match in RWC was in 1991 (against Zimbabwe), and the draw against Canada at least equaled their 2007 tournament, where they also drew with Canada.

The margins in their losses were also narrower than they had been previously, which you'd expect, as the tier two sides, as they were all quite evenly matched in terms of relative strengths ... yes they sacrificed the All Blacks game, as did all of the other sides in that pool, including France (who made the final).

 

[tenpm]

By the Japanese. And it wasn't like they had unrealistically high expectations; going into the 2011 RWC, Japan was only .53 points behind Tonga in the rankings and actually .39 points ahead of Canada. Tonga was 11th, Japan was 12th and Canada 13th. In contrast, Japan was ranked 18th the week before the 2007 RWC, 6 places and 4.71 points behind Canada.
It wasn't a disappointment in the same way that the 2007 RWC was a disappointment to the All Blacks, but considering JK's goal was to win against Tonga and Canada "whatever the cost" (disregarding development of players by using foreigners and not worrying about respectable scores versus New Zealand and France, as I said), he really should have done better.

 

[Negev]

Really? Don't rate him really, his record is hardly inspiring; Italy didn't really improve, and Japan has gained for in one year of Jones than the four of Kirwan.

I totally agree with you.
If in the italian experience Italy needed more a traditional coach starting from the "fundamentals" of rugby, as well with Japan Kirwan didn't result as the best man for the job. He might be an excellent executive coach (and a former champion player), but to me he looks like a man who is more interested about his image.
I hope anyways Blues could benefit from him.

 

[Larksea]

Releasing Anscombe was clearly a political move. Its a shame I don't think it had anything to do with Anscombe himself and the blues would definitely be a better team with Anscombe still there.

The blues are still a team on the improve. I think the team finally has a culture and personality and potential. much more so than the Nucifora/Lam Era. I think the team is once again becoming a side that players want to be part of.

Definitely worth signing him for long term. It is a competitive market though, there are only 5 super sides and the All Blacks so thats not a lot of top level coaching jobs in NZ and we have a lot of good coaches. So committing to one for an extended period is a real showing of commitment. Recent report suggested Rob Penny was still keen on working in NZ, there would be other big name NZ coaches out there that would be interested.

 

[Draggs]

I don't think kirwan is someone who can develop players, reminds me of plumtree.
Italy became a more solid side under Mallett and now Brunel. Japan expected to kick on after 2007 but all he did was pull in kiwis. Eddie Jones hasn't built on it, he has chucked away many of them for local players who are developing their own way of playing.

 

[donmcdazzle]

With guys like Joe Schmidt, Vern Cotter and Rob Penney all overseas you have to wonder what the NZRU are doing when we have Jamie Joseph, Todd Blackadder and Mark Hammet running our top teams here. The former 3 are all far more accomplished and deserving of the chances the latter trio got delivered on a platter.