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IRELAND have blundered in appointing Declan Kidney and not an overseas candidate as boss, according to former Leinster backs coach David Knox.

Former Newport Gwent Dragons coach Kidney was chosen to succeed Eddie O'Sullivan last week, but only after big names from the southern hemisphere such as Jake White and Pat Howard had ruled themselves out.

The 48-year-old has worked wonders with Munster, guiding them to the Heineken Cup glory in 2006 and another European final this season.

But Knox, who spent the last three seasons at Leinster but is no longer employed by the province, believes the Ireland team should have been taken in a fresh direction.

"It's a big mistake to choose Declan Kidney as the new coach,'' he said. "The Ireland team badly needed a foreign coach. After the Eddie O'Sullivan era they wanted someone to test these guys, show them a new way to play.

"The Munster people think Kidney is a Messiah but I just don't understand that.'' Knox helped Leinster win this year's Magners League before departing and will be replaced by Saracens director of rugby Alan Gaffney this summer.

But the former Wallaby fly-half is critical of the standard of Ireland's players and is particularly scathing of Ronan O'Gara.

"When Ireland's players come to play at the very highest level, such as a World Cup, they come up short,'' he insists.

"I have been here for three years and I have never seen Ronan O'Gara create space for anybody. Yet over here he ranks with Dan Carter as the best fly-half in the world. I have never heard such rubbish.

"Munster's record is fantastic but you can't tell me they play anything but 10-man rugby. Unfortunately, players can't just switch on style play when they get into the international arena.

"Munster get 30 points by grinding away and when the other team is shot, they try and throw the ball around a bit. Then people say, what a great team. It's rubbish.'' Knox is scathing of the way Munster have used former All Black winger Doug Howlett.

"If Howlett had played for Leinster this season, he would have ended up scoring 30 tries,'' he said. "He's scored about three or four for Munster. He's seen as the greatest buy of the year but how often has he touched the ball? They have no idea how to use him.'' Kidney will not be in charge of Ireland's summer tour to New Zealand and Australia so he can concentrate on Munster's Heineken Cup final against Toulouse.

Connacht's Michael Bradley has been appointed interim coach and will also oversee the Barbarians fixture at Kingsholm on May 27.

12:27pm Wednesday 14th May 2008

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