Vigorous denials from the Blues yesterday about their future coaching plans shouldn't offer Sir John Kirwan any peace of mind.
A report that claimed the Blues were lining up Tasman's Kieran Keane to replace Kirwan was more of a false start than a preposterous notion.
The next four weeks coulddetermine his future. The Blues play the Lions tonight, the Hurricanes in Wellington, take a break and then head to Sydney to play the Waratahs and Hamilton to take on the Chiefs.
They are sitting winless this morning but they will, barring a total implosion, beat the Lions. But after that, its conceivable to imagine them taking nothing from the next three games.
The Hurricanes are in better shape than they have been in years; they know how important it is to keep their momentum going in front of their own people. The Waratahs are the defending champions and not many visiting teams will win in Sydney. And then the Chiefs have already beaten the Blues and have the look of champions-elect.
If the Blues are to turn their season around; or Kirwan is to convince as the right man to lead them beyond this year - then they need to chalk up more than a solitary victory against the Lions.
Yes, the Blues didn't get a stroke of good fortune against the Cheetahs. Yes, they played well in the second half against the Chiefs and dug in bravely against the Stormers when they were reduced to 14 men.
They don't look to be that far off the pace. But the thing is, that's not enough any more to satisfy a fan base that has been patient and supportive. The hard luck stories have piled up. The close-but-no-cigar games have become too frequent. All the right things are said in defeat and yet there is not enough evidence of lessons having been learned.
The Blues under Kirwan have become a little like Mayor Len Brown's rail link. There's a man with a big vision promising the masses a better future if they can just dig deep into their pockets.
Aucklanders mostly want to believe in that vision but, like Brown, Kirwan is exhausting the faith. Trust is beginning to erode and the line in the sand moment has arrived: results are needed for that faith to be maintained.
A bit of luck, a few decisions going their way and who knows ... this young Blues side could suddenly believe in themselves and catch fire.
They are going to need to, otherwise the next report that says Keane is being tapped up might be built on fact.
