First take: Kirwan's got to go

John Kirwan watches on as his Blues fall to the Lions. Photo / Getty

The Blues must fire their coach Sir John Kirwan immediately if they are to have any chance of salvaging the 2015 season.

The franchise's board needs to take command of this situation after the total shambles at Albany last night when the once proud Blues were beaten by the usually useless Lions.

There is no future to the Kirwan era, It is stuck in reverse and won't ever go in the right direction. He just doesn't have what it takes, four straight losses this season just part of the evidence.

With all to play for in the final stanza, there was no fire, cohesion or desperation from the Blues against the Lions. They looked disinterested. They were an embarrassment. Their scrum was awful, continually conceding penalties.

Fair play to the Johannesburg Lions. But all they did was defend in numbers, stick to their guns in that department, and take advantage of their one attacking burst.

A Blues team full of firepower - Charles Piutau, Charlie Faumuina, Patrick Tuipulotu and all - were appallingly bad in an arena suitably devoid of atmosphere and many people.

Kirwan's record was already bad enough during his first two season in charge, but the whole shebang has unravelled. The players are performing as if they have no idea what the coaches are on about.

Kirwan claimed at halftime that the Lions looked as though they were about to fall off a cliff, words that should haunt him.

There have been many disappointments for Auckland - Blues - rugby over a along time but surely few as bad as this.

Who commands New Zealand rugby? Is Kirwan a favourite in the halls of power, protected by central control? Who can take over? There must be a heap of people who could do a better job than the current coaching regime.