McGahan and Cheika - Coaching and the vitality of timing

Tony McGahan and Michael Cheika are two names that Irish rugby fans will be very familiar with. Interestingly, both men succeeded Declan Kidney upon their appointment as Head Coaches of Irish provinces. McGahan took the reigns from Kidney in 2008 following Munster's second Heineken Cup victory and Kidney's appointment as Head Coach of Ireland. Cheika took charge of Leinster in 2005 after Kidney left Leinster after less than a season in favour of the Red Army. 

Leinster in 2005 and Munster in 2008 were two very different scenarios for a coach and expectation. Munster had just won their second Heineken Cup in three years, were providing the bones of the Irish team from 1-10 and in total had nine representatives on the following summers British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa including the Captain. In contrast Leinster were seen as an emerging reincarnation of the Munster of the early 2000's, the perpetual bridesmaids, a team playing well within its potential. Leinster were providing the rest of the Irish team, from 11-15 and the era of Munster Forwards and Leinster Backs was marked. 

Cheika's first campaign ending in a 30-6 Heineken Cup semi-final loss to Munster at Lansdowne Road summed up the contrasting situations of the provinces well, despite the scoreline being quite flattering in the end. O'Driscoll's public flirtation with Biarrtz Olympique in 2005 was a further warning to Leinster that something needed to change and fast. The story of Leinster and Cheika is a well known one, a slow build-up to 2009. The Croke Park Heineken Cup semi-final saw a complete role reversal from the 2006 semi-final, Leinster came out comprehensive winners and went on to win the trophy, directed by Jonny Sexton who had thrived on the pressure of his sudden semi-final entrance after Contepomi's injury. The 2009-10 season too was a success and a Magners League win combined with a semi-final Heineken Cup appearance was enough. Cheika was a legend and despite his shortcomings in Stade Francais, partly due to financial problems within the club, have largely been ignored and he is seen as one of the worlds best coaches right now. 

McGahan meanwhile took over from the ultimate Munster man. Kidney had left as a hero of the province, the man who had lead the side to four Heineken Cup finals and finally two victories in quick succession. Furthermore, he was leading Ireland to a first Grand Slam in Sixty-One years while McGahan lead Munster to a Magners League win and a Heineken Cup semi-final. McGahan faced ridiculous expectation and what was undoubtedly a successful season was not regarded as such, the semi-final loss to Leinster was all anyone focussed in on. The following years double semi-final losses in the Magners League and Heineken Cup added to the idea that McGahan was not quite what Munster needed. 

2010-11 saw Schmidt replace Cheika at Leinster, leading them to a second Heineken Cup victory is his debut season. McGahan leading Munster to another Magners League win following the first time Munster had failed to qualify for the knock-out stages of the Heineken Cup since 1998-99.

2011-12 was probably the season which is most associated with McGahan's era in charge at Munster, a home quarter-final loss to Ulster in the Heineken Cup and a dismal hammering away to the Ospreys in the Pro12 Semi-finals.

Across his four season in charge McGahan lead Munster to two Magners League victories, two Heineken Cup semi-finals and one quarter-final and his tenure is remembered as largely forgettable. Timing is everything for a coach, Kidney returning to Munster at the right time in 2005 and taking over Ireland at the right time in 2008-09. McGahan took over Munster as they began their descent and Leinster started their ascent, the sudden flip in dominance throughout McGahan's era not helping one bit. Cheika should be rightly credited for his work with Leinster, he did a superb job and brought the side from underachieving into the team everyone in Europe was frightened to face. 

However, you cannot help but think that the Leinster team Cheika took control of just needed to recruit a bit better and they could reach their potential. They had great players, they just needed to become a great team. The same could be said of the Waratahs team that Cheika took control of in 2013. Leinster and the Waratahs both had the potential to be great sides, but crucially had not become them yet. McGahan meanwhile became Munster's head coach when the golden era was pittering out and this earned him the same role at the Melbourne Rebels in 2013. Cheika's appointment as Wallaby coach last year is undoubtedly a result of this. McGahan at the Waratahs and Cheika at the Rebels in 2013 and we could be looking at a very different Wallaby coach right now. Timing is everything for a coach, you don't want to take over a Champion team on a downward spiral, just ask Matt O'Connor.  ward spiral, just ask Matt O'Connor.