IN THE absence of white smoke from the IRFU, a significant gamble was wagered on Jake White to become the next Irish coach yesterday, so much so that it forced some bookies to suspend betting. However, the smart money remains on Declan Kidney, whose appointment could yet be announced as early as next week.
White's odds came tumbling from 22 to 1 with Paddy Power yesterday morning to 12s, 7s, 4s and eventually 8 to 11. This may have been sparked by a sighting of South Africa's World Cup-winning coach in one of Ballsbridge's drinking emporiums on Tuesday night, and reputed whispers that he had been interviewed for the Irish job.
White has been available for hire since the end of last year, having guided South Africa to World Cup success in October. He has since publicly canvassed for the England job, while maintaining a high profile in South Africa through a best-selling biography.
But White is ostensibly in Dublin to speak at a coaching/referees' symposium which the IRB are holding at their Stephen's Green offices.
Any IRFU move for him would make sense in the context of overlooking Kidney, whose candidature has been endorsed by Matt Williams, Warren Gatland and by Alan Gaffney on TV3 on Monday night.
In light of the ill-considered decision by the three-man appointments committee of Noel Murphy, Pa Whelan and Neil Jackson to grant O'Sullivan a four-year extension last August, were they then to choose someone other than the Munster coach they would surely feel obliged to present a big hitter.
Against that, there is no evidence emanating from the IRFU to suggest White is on the shortlist of three to assume the role as head coach following O'Sullivan's resignation five weeks ago.
It's also worth bearing in mind that it requires little movement to spark a sharp movement in odds for something as fluctuating and fluid as "the next coach". The bushfire of rumours which ran in tandem with "the next Irish coach" for the last two Republic of Ireland footballing vacancies saw a host of different market leaders and sizeable gambles.
The dark horse remains John Mitchell at 12 to 1, who is on the IRFU's shortlist of three along with Kidney. As someone who played in Ireland with Garryowen for three years and briefly coached the Irish forwards under Murray Kidd, before moving on to coach Sale and the English forwards under Clive Woodward, he has significant ties with Irish rugby.
He also has experience of coaching at Test level with the All Blacks, and has made a big impression with the Western Force Super 14 franchise. Assuming command after the Super 14 series, the final of which is on May 31st, against the All Blacks on June 7th and Australia a week later would not be impossible.
However, all the indications from Perth are that he has no desire to leave the Force or uproot his family again.
The deafening silence from the IRFU is alarming given the Ireland-Barbarians game in Kingsholm on May 27th is less than five weeks away and an Irish squad will depart to Wellington in less than six weeks.
Michael Bradley and Allen Clarke are due to take charge of Ireland A in the Churchill Cup in Canada and Chicago in June, so if Bradley were to be brought on board as a caretaker Irish coach for the Barbarians match and/or the summer tour, that would have a ripple effect on the Churchill Cup. It would make more sense to appoint Bradley as a caretaker head coach, with Niall O'Donovan as assistant, in the short-term.
In the longer term, though, the smart money remains on Kidney being the next full-time Irish head coach amid reports from good sources that he has been approached by the IRFU. And the White gamble has seen his odds drift to 6 to 4.
