Kirwan buys himself time

Wayne Smith, specialist defence coach for the All Blacks and respected technical guru throughout the land. Photo / NZME.

Three weeks ago the Blues were ready to dispatch John Kirwan.

They had had enough, his three season coaching record was dismal and there was enough feedback to convince the board they could not continue.

Kirwan then delivered his tactical masterstroke.

He could deliver Wayne Smith, the specialist defence coach for the All Blacks and respected technical guru throughout the land, to assist with the Blues next season. They had known each other for more than 30 years since Smith arranged for Kirwan to play rugby in Italy and they had been good friends since.

Kirwan told chief executive Michael Redman and influential board members about that coup while a collection of heavyweight rugby lobbyists in Auckland added their weight behind the coach's retention. While that deal was being sorted, the chance of Tabai Matson joining as an assistant coach dropped into the public forums.

It was a golden diversion and perhaps a reason behind the Blues' confidence they could sort out some coaching layers by the end of the month. They already had Smith as their main man, Matson was another target.

He was someone to fill out the coaching group which is losing Grant Doorey to work with London Irish and mental skills coach Isa Nacewa who is moving back to play for Leinster after a two-season stint with the Blues.

Meanwhile, the Crusaders say they knew about Matson's visit and watched the fallout before delivering him some sort of ultimatum like "if you're going, your time is up now otherwise swear your public loyalty to the red and blacks and see out your contract until the end of 2016".

Somewhere in all this ruckus, an inaudible New Zealand Rugby had to know what was happening because Matson and Smith are both on NZ Rugby contracts.

It seems Blues private investor Murray Bolton favours Kirwan's retention because of the strong responses he provokes from the business and marketing worlds.

There is a strong public line pitched about the Blues and Kirwan that despite the awkward season, the playing group remains tight and committed. Many are but there are a number, outside those retiring or leaving for offshore deals, who are looking to shift.

If Smith hitches his expertise to the Blues, that would help repair many of the technical and strategic deficiencies which are hurting the team. It's the ace Kirwan and his confidantes used to halt his looming exit.

The dots are joining up, Kirwan has bought valuable time in his bid to convince the board there will be an improvement in 2016 and he deserves to be part of it. Meanwhile, the Blues have rebuffed inquiries from other ambitious coaches and if the latest bailout plan falls over, they will have further reduced their replacement choices.

That will not concern Kirwan and his faction but it will place the board in an awkward position if they have ratified an extension to his contract.