By deciding to join forces with Tabai Matson on a two-year plan which he hopes will save his job, John Kirwan has embarked on a front-foot strategy that his struggling backline would do well to emulate.
That's his prerogative, and good on him. However, before rubber-stamping Kirwan's plan - revealedby the Herald this morning - the Blues board should take a step back and think very hard about what direction they want the franchise to take.
Kirwan may well be the best qualified candidate to lead the Blues next season, but the board won't know that until they open up the role to the market - both in New Zealand and globally. What about Milton Haig, the astute former Counties coach, now heading to the World Cup with Georgia? What about well-travelled former South Africa coach Jake White? What about Robbie Deans?
If ever there was a time for a rigorous and transparent selection process for a head coach at the Blues it is now.
If ever there was a time for a rigorous and transparent selection process for a head coach at the Blues it is now. Everyone knows they have underachieved for years. The Blues' board, players and supporters know it. Kirwan himself knows it.
The board must therefore see what sort of candidate they can attract before settling on Kirwan's plan which is breathtaking in its cheek if nothing else.
The Blues have won just one game this season. Photo / Getty Images
It has long been established that Kirwan is a great guy, that he has managed to keep a squad together which is losing week-in and week-out, but how can he justify the right to anoint his successor - another one of rugby's good men but one who has had no head coaching experience and no affiliation with the Blues?
As for the Crusaders, they have every right to feel angry if this deal goes through and they lose Matson, who had agreed terms to stay on until the end of next season. His New Zealand Rugby contract would give him the right to resign and take up with the Blues, but does he have a moral obligation with the Crusaders? Many would say yes but also shrug and add "that's professional rugby".
They have been here before of course with Mark Hammett being appointed as Hurricanes head coach part-way through the 2010 season. It compromised the Crusaders straight away - he was picking up "intellectual property" he could put to use with their rivals, and Todd Blackadder later stated he would never allow that to happen again.
If Matson puts his lot in with the Blues and it is rubber-stamped by the franchise's board and New Zealand Rugby, he will be asked to leave the Crusaders straight away. It could get very messy for the Crusaders and the Blues.
