Ireland

Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll has backed new head coach Declan Kidney to revive Ireland's fortunes after a dismal World Cup and worst ever Six Nations campaign.

The Munster coach, who succeeds Eddie O'Sullivan, was handed the task of reviving Ireland in time for the next World Cup on Wednesday.

And commenting on the appointment O'Driscoll said: "Declan has the CV to match the criteria for any international coach.

"He has had success with the national team at age level, he has had great success with Munster, he has been assistant coach under Eddie O'Sullivan back in the 2003 World Cup. He ticks all the boxes.

"From what the guys at Munster say, he has taken a little bit of a step back from the coaching role and he is the man who now puts it all together.

"He knows how to get the best out of his players and his coaches. If he does that with Ireland hopefully we can get back to the heights we hit 18 months ago."

Kidney, 48, is currently preparing Munster for their Heineken Cup Final date with Toulouse at the end of the month.

He will take over as head coach after Ireland's upcoming tour of Australia and New Zealand and has been given a contract that runs until the end of the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.

Kidney's first major task will be to prepare for November internationals against the All Blacks and Argentina.

Ireland are due to face the Barbarians at the end of this month before setting off Down Under, where they are due to play one Test in both Australia and New Zealand.

AFP