Rugby: Kirwan gets backing of boss but the clock ticking

Blues Coach John Kirwan. Photo / Dean Purcell

Player privately expresses doubt over coach making it to end of his contract with Blues.

John Kirwan's "bring it on" defiance in the aftermath of the Blues' depressing loss to the Lions was slightly more measured yesterday.

He wants to, and expects to, stay to lead the franchise out of the mire, but the reality is he is in danger of losing the faith of his players if things don't change quickly.

One player commented privately to the Herald after the 13-10 defeat on Saturday, one of the worst in the team's history, that he wonders if head coach Kirwan will survive until the end of his contract this year. If his feeling is widespread then it doesn't bode well for a coach who has overseen four defeats from four this season after consecutive 10th-place finishes in his previous two years.

The Blues are dead last of 15 teams with two competition points after the Lions overturned a 3-10 deficit to run over the top of a team which seemed at a loss as to what to do next. To make matters worse, the match was supposed to be a celebration of the careers of Keven Mealamu and skipper Jerome Kaino, two men who deserved better than this.

It meant many fans at North Harbour had already left when the pair - Mealamu was celebrating his record 163rd match, and Kaino his 100th achieved the week before in Bloemfontein - were presented with their mementoes amid words about values and consistency in a ceremony approaching farce.

Straight afterwards Kirwan, who during the week stated the Blues were in "great shape", stated: "I like moments like this. Men need to stand up, so bring it on."

Yesterday in an interview with Tony Veitch on Newstalk ZB, Kirwan was again backed by franchise chief executive Michael Redman, but the clock appears to be ticking.

"We went into this season knowing this was the last year of his current contract, that at some point during the year there would need to be a review about whether or not we're going to be reappointing or whether we're going to go to the market," Redman said.

Mid-season in terms of competition games would be just after the April 10 match against the Brumbies at Eden Park, which follows three difficult away games against the Hurricanes, Waratahs and Chiefs.

Kirwan told Veitch yesterday he understood the frustration of his team's supporters. He also said he expects a contract extension and that he had the total support of his players. He said he would not quit if Blues don't make the play-offs.

"There's no way I would walk. I'm totally committed to this franchise and I believe I'm the right man for the job," he said.

"I understand [the fans' frustration] and apologise for the situation we're in, but I promise you the boys are working hard and we're working in the right direction. This will turn around. We're building something that's going to be long-lasting. I think the easy option is get rid of the coach but when you're putting systems in place, when you're creating something, it's going to take time."