SLIDING DOORS

McFarland for Ulster as Keane exits out West

ULSTER and the IRFU are banking on new head coach Dan McFarland bringing stability to the province after the most turbulent period in their history while Connacht are reported to be on the hunt for a replacement for Kieran Keane.

It was confirmed yesterday that former Connacht prop and assistant coach McFarland will leave his role as Scotland forwards coach to take over at Ravenhill while it has been reported that an announcement is imminent on Keane’s time at Connacht coming to an end one year into his three-year deal.

Although the Scottish union claimed the 46year-old McFarland would be tied to their national team until seeing out his notice in mid-January, it is understood McFarland will join up with Ulster as soon as the Scots find a replacement.

Ulster’s decision to bring in McFarland, rather than another high-profile southern hemisphere appointment, looks like it has been taken with an

eye on steadying the ship at Ulster — described last week as a ‘basket case’ by former Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll. Ulster failed to make the knock-out stages of the Champions Cup or Pro14 this season, with head coach Les Kiss and assistant Jono Gibbes both leaving, while the fallout from the Belfast trial involving players Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding has created a swirl of negative publicity. McFarland (right) is well acquainted with the workings of provincial rugby from his nine years as forwards coach with Connacht and his understanding of IRFU player management and player succession policies should create a good relationship with Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt and elite performance director, David Nucifora. In addition, the Englishman has forged a strong reputation for developing effective forward packs — an area where Ulster have fallen short. His close working relationship with Pat Lam at Connacht and Gregor Townsend at Glasgow and Scotland — two of the most highly regarded coaches in the game — weighs heavily in his favour as both men have thrived by creating a positive, unified culture around the teams they have coached. The lack of culture under Keane at Connacht looks to have prefaced his early exit and reports emerged yesterday that the province have already begun the search for his replacement. Despite Saturday’s 47-10 hammering of Leinster, the 2016 Pro12 winners have had a poor season, finishing second last in their Pro14 conference and failing to make the last four of the Challenge Cup.