ANTHONY FOLEY might be out of the running for the position of Munster coach should Declan Kidney ask him to remain as Ireland’s forwards coach in the continued absence of Gert Smal. Smal’s ongoing health issues mean he is highly unlikely to travel on the three-test tour to New Zealand in June.
The 50-year-old South African withdrew four weeks ago because of a “pre-existing eye condition” but it emerged that the condition had been exacerbated by the first of two strokes. Smal was discharged from hospital in the past few days and he will not be rushing back to a stressful job.
Foley was drafted in as temporary replacement the day before Ireland’s 42-10 victory over Italy and has made a very positive impression on all of the players, not just those who know him from his work with Munster’s pack. Ireland’s work in the contact zone against France reflected well on a man in his first real week on the job, and his self-confidence within the Irish set-up was shown in his outspoken criticism of the performance of New Zealand referee Chris Pollock after last week’s victory over Scotland.
The 38-year-old is a coach very much on the fast track, which is now beginning to look more like a dual carriageway. His name is in the hat for the Munster job, which will be vacated when Tony McGahan becomes Australia defence coach. There is also the possibility that he will be asked to stay on with Ireland on a more permanent basis.
And that would be a blessing for him. The top Munster gig would give him a higher profile but purely technical work within the Ireland set-up would be more beneficial for someone who only retired as a player four years ago. It would allow Foley the opportunity to develop his coaching skills in a less pressurised position while working with top-class players.
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It is not as though Foley would ever be put in a position where he had to choose between province and country. If Kidney decides he needs him full-time, then the needs of the national team would always come first.
In any case, Munster surely have reservations about putting him into the hot-seat now, having planned for him to complete his apprenticeship under McGahan for another season or two. They need to make a decision on McGahan’s replacement sooner rather than later. It may turn out that Foley’s rapid progress with Ireland and Smal's unfortunate ill-health simplifies matters for them.