Kirwan to assist Johnstone
September 1, 2001

The Italian Rugby Federation voted on Friday to keep coach Brad Johnstone in his job until the end of the 2003 World Cup, ANSA news agency reported.

New Zealander Johnstone, in the job for two nearly two years, was retained after a long and stormy meeting and will now be assisted by another former All Black, John Kirwan, who will have special responsibility for the backs.

Ten board members voted in favour of Johnstone, while seven voted for his removal and one abstained after Italy general manager Fabrizio Gaetaniello had presented a case for a fresh start.

Gaetaniello had urged a troika management system in which former All Black coach John Hart and compatriots Kirwan and Frankie Bunce would work as a unit. But in the end the board decided to stick with Johnstone - a former Fiji coach - and also agreed to appoint Kirwan, who played in Italy with Treviso, as his number two.

FIR president Giancarlo Dondi, a staunch ally of former All Black prop Johnstone, said: "I think we made the best choice available to us. Johnstone has been in Italy for nearly two years, he knows the territory and I am certain in the next years his work will yield positive dividends.

"Now that he has the support of a man of substance like Kirwan I am even more sure of it."

Johnstone took the job in 1999 at a time when many established Italian players were retiring and was forced to blood inexperienced players just as Italy were admitted into the Six Nations Championship.

Italy have won only one of their 10 Six Nations matches, but Johnstone has always maintained he has been building a young squad with the 2003 World Cup in his mind. - Sapa

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