Penney wise, pound foolish

Tony Leen, Sports Editor
SO where are we in terms of filling what Wayne Smith described as one of the biggest coaching jobs in world rugby - the Munster No 1.
It’s not that long ago that Anthony Foley wasn’t just odds-on favourite to replace Tony McGahan, he was actually tagged and bagged for the job according to one newspaper. Then along came the Tana Umaga bandwagon, blog-blogging along. And even if his lack of coaching on such an elevated plateau nixed him for the main job, then wasn’t he the ideal ying to Foley’s yang. It was presented as something of a mortal insult to Foley to bring in a forwards coach over his head as head honcho, so the local man as numero uno and Umaga reinvigorating the back division seemed the ideal pairing. Two and two makes four, right?
Until one presents the case for Rob Penney, the Canterbury over-achiever? The word, from people who seem to know these things, is that he interviewed extremely well for the Munster job. Not to worry that people here were asking ‘if he’s that good why can’t he get a Super 15 job down there?’ Folk in the antipodeans are asking the same thing. Here’s what one blogger said:
“Penney has a record second to none. Two NPC titles for the Cantabs. The ability to bring young talent through on to higher honours. I hope he goes for the assistant coach at the (Auckland) Blues for next year. I believe he could add a lot to the Blues next year. Don’t want to see him going overseas as he would be snapped up immediately be it club or country.”
Too late, it seems. What was sweet music to the Munster ears of Messrs Garrett Fitzgerald, John Kelly, John Hartery et al was his track record at coercing developing talent at Canterbury, where he’s won four NPC titles. Even so, Penney has watched the Crusaders, Hurricanes, Highlanders and Chiefs coaching positions be filled by other candidates – even if he didn't interview for them all.
Their loss, we reckon. That plop plop noise you’re hearing in the background is the sound of pennies dropping. How about a job for all three? Penney in as head coach, the over-arching generalissimo who will ensure that Munster will continue to drive stellar talent through the Academy process here. And Umaga as backs coach, with Foley remaining as forwards coach.
Money? May not be the issue it seems. Penney and Umaga are both graduating to a higher plain and, despite the burgeoning reputation of one and the playing reputation of the other - shouldn’t cost the earth. Foley’s already on the salary of the forwards coach.
And there might even be a position for Niall O’Donovan in all this. Though don’t expect any formal Munster announcement this week.

 

Source: http://feeds.examiner.ie/~r/iesportsblog/~3/5HJYS2iq9dY/post.aspx

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