Last month Eddie O’Sullivan resigned as coach of Ireland’s rugby team
after seven years at the helm. He was arguably Ireland’s most
successful coach of all time winning three triple crowns and rising as
high as third in the world rankings.

He stepped down after our worst six nations campaign for almost a
decade finishing with only four points from a possible ten. Ireland
lost to Wales, France and England during the disastrous campaign.
O’Sullivan still had four years left on his contract that he
controversially signed just before the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

O’Sullivan admitted: “At the conclusion of the Six Nations
Championship and having giving my role as coach much consideration, I
have decided to step down. I would like to thank my back room staff and
the players.” O’Sullivan added “Their commitment and professionalism in
representing their country has been consummate”

He was one of Ireland’s most successful managers and was widely
regarded amongst other national coaches. He played a coaching role on
the last British and Irish Lions tour in 2005 when they traveled to New
Zealand. Clive Woodward was the manager for that disastrous tour and
Eddie O’Sullivan was tipped to succeed him for the next tour to South
Africa in 2009. A clause was put in his contract that allowed him to
leave and take this post if it was offered to him, this raised eyebrows
amongst Irish fans.

He was in charge for seven years after succeeding Warren Gatland. He
coached Ireland to three Triple Crown successes and a World Cup quarter
in 2003, where we lost to France. O’Sullivan will always be remembered
as the man who nearly brought Ireland the Grand Slam he should have. On
four occasions he missed out on the Grand Slam by just one defeat,
England in 2003 and to France in 2004, 2006 and 2007.

Ireland started their 2007 campaign with massive expectations, they
were expected to win the Grand Slam they had missed out on so many
times. It was also a World Cup year and Ireland had been tipped as one
of the possible winners. Once again Ireland missed out on the Grand
Slam after a last minute defeat to France at an historic game in Croke
Park. Confidence was still high heading to France for the World Cup.

Their tournament started badly and gradually got worse with Ireland
not even progressing from the group stages. After narrow wins against
minnows Namibia and Georgia they lost to both Argentina and France
sending the green army home early. There were calls for O’Sullivan to
step down even though he had been handed a new four year contract only
months before the World Cup.

O’Sullivan vowed to continue in charge of the national team but was
eventually forced to step down after a limp performance against Wales
which saw Ireland slip to a fourth place finish in this years six
nations.

Ireland also had very impressive test wins against nations from the
Southern Hemisphere under O’Sullivan beating both South Africa and
Australia. We also enjoyed four consecutive victories over rivals
England during his term.

O’Sullivan received heavy criticism over his team choices during his
spell in charge especially near the end of his reign. The Irish manager
was accused of failing to blend in young players when the elder
statesmen were under performing.

O’Sullivan was then appointed as assistant coach of the Irish
national side in 1999 and in 2001 as the head coach following the
departure of Warren Gatland. Ireland’s search for a new manager is
thought to continue into the summer.

Declan Kidney, the current Munster coach is favourite to take the
position but the IRFU have stated they will search long and hard before
announcing a new coach. Ireland’s next game is against against New
Zealand in May in a tour of the Southern Hemisphere and the IRFU will
hope to have a new coach in place by then.

- Chris Blake