Kirwan resigns as Blues coach

Nicely put

Had to happen.

I believe that Gibson-Park is off elsewhere actually, part of the reason behind signing up Sam Nock perhaps. I agree on Cowan, Blues need to look forward. Brynn Hall had a great 2014 but has just struggled with injury. I think Pita Ahki is also off contract. I think you're right on the outside backs, no worries there. Mitchell hunt and TJ Faiane have been looking good for the U20s, but Super rugby is a huge step up from there.

Well said, NB.

Time for an apprenticeship at NPC level JK.

So can you bullet point all the things that Umaga brings to the position that will bring them out of this slump?

I'm just not convinced by Umaga in terms of being able to directly provide significant improvement. He's largely an outsider who other than donning the jersey at counties a couple if times as player catch had never really had much to do with the union. His Coaching record isn't spectacular with either Toulon or Counties Manukau and hasn't coached Superxv at all. What he has that no Auckland coach has has since they last won in 2003 I don't know. The move seems more a push Kirwan out rather than any particular reason to get Umaga in, more 'try something else' rather than anything specifically positive. If Umaga fails everyone will be asking what did Umaga do to deserve the position..what's the answer to that...mana?

Tana Umaga has yet to be proven as a coach at this level. No question that he has the support of the players and we will see, if he signs on if the time he spent in France as player coach for Toulon and his stint with Counties Manukau as Coach will be enough to turn the Blues around. As I understand it,there are not too many potential proven "Head Coaches" available at the moment I don't need to name them, we all know who they are ... If Tana signs on, I hope he has the support of the fans who cannot be expected to continue to watch the tinkering around the dysfunctional board room while "Rome burns". In 2016 I believe the Blues will have enough muscle up front but they will need to be built into a cohesive unit. I believe that is Tana signs on, he needs to look seriously at 9, 10 and 12. Cowan has had his time ... we need to see how Bryn Hall turns up after the interrupted 2015 season, with Gibson Park already entrenched - who else? I thought Ihaia West would take his opportunity with a bit more authority. Bowden and Hickey are starting to give a bit of 'journeyman' (young ones at that) impression, neither making the impact required to ignite a misfiring backline. Then we have the inside centre... Ugggh what to do here? Francis Saili has become a one test wonder and is now on the emigration list anyhow. I had great expectations of the younger Saili but... well we all know the story. Pita Ahki or George Moala maybe?... The latter can compete with Rene Ranger who also can cover wing when he returns next year. Outside backs there is no issue with Li and Visinia and Lam though the loss of Puitua will not be easy to replace. Nanai looks an interesting prospect. No doubt there will be a lot of speculation ahead ... I just hope that the Blues can get their management teams settled and right post haste.

:) Nice one.

Sam the board is split... hence the bickering. How can anyone expect the team to flourish when "the Bosses" cannot make important decisions when they need to. Sir JK has been great in terms of a PR but for all the best intentions he was not able to mesh the players together to achieve for a common goal. That goal, given the catchment area of the Blues is success on the paddock. Private interest is great but the board members representing their stakeholders must understand that in a competiive sports environment that rugby is in, support (and by default sponsorship dollars) must be the result of success in whatever form one can agree on. Coaches and players must realise that the currency of success is winning.

Akari, to be honest, not really 'delighted' so to speak. Like your kids, support is unconditionally. I never thought that Sir JK was going to be the messiah for Blues anyhow but still supported the team AND the coach in spite of what was happening but what is difficult to appreciate is the lack of consensus of the board. .

Good. Clearly it was Kirwans fault, just as it was the coach before him and the coach before that...and the coach before that was to blame too. Duhhh, makes sense to me.

took them 2 years? I prophecised him as Damien 2 years ago .... Tana Umaga definitely the man that can save the Blues...

Why would you restrict it to Umaga and an existing Super Rugby assistant coach? What about the assistants they already have. Why don't they open the whole thing up? Call for applicants. See who puts their hand up. They are going to find it hard to fill the gaps as you have set out above. It is becoming increasingly hard for these teams to recruit quality players across the board.

Oh nooo, I hope they dont poach philippe saint andre before the rwc!

As I heard it was 3-2 in favour of keeping Kirwan with the Union members against.

Fair points, I don't think Kirwan had a decent forwards assistant at any point which probably has a lot to do with the style up front. I think one thing that Rennie has concentrated on well is players with high workrates. I think there's a bit of the provincial anti Auckland sentiment coming in there ;), they've tried coaches from outside the Blues before (Rowlands, Sloane, Nucifora) without success. If Umaga is successful (which I hope he is) it won't be because he's not from Auckland it will be because he's a good coach. I think it's been more that they've been letting good players slip through their fingers. Fekitoa is a case in point, he played the house down for Auckland the other year (I was at every home game) and Kirwan cut him loose. I was speechless to be honest. in terms of the loose trio I think Luatua really needs to a kick up the bum, he has potentail but you can't win games with potential and he hasn't got back to the form that won him a black jersey. Blake Gibson and Akira Ioane look like good players coming through. The crusaders are likely to be in direct competition for 1st5s rather than supplying them, I'd go for Otere Black, as fire as I know the Hurricanes haven't sewn him up yet and he might not be keen to sit behind Beauden Barret too much.

That's one piece of rust cut out now they need to clean out the board.

What...sign Sir John...!?

You should be delighted, RT. It is magnanimous of JK to stand down knowing that he could have stretched things a bit further down the track as he could given the Blues Board could not reach consensus on the way forward.