Kidney: All credit is due to the players

In the build-up to his first match in charge, the former Munster coach has understandably been the centre of attention, with the occasion given added gloss by the fact it took place at Thomond Park, home of the club he guided to two Heineken Cup triumphs.

But Kidney insisted that any glory that might be heaped upon him after a points-laden first game in charge was misguided, saying: "That honestly doesn't really matter. Once I got into the dressing room to see the 22 of them sitting down and looking around, being able to look at each other and say 'that was good', that was the pleasing thing."

He added: "It is brilliant to be involved, a huge honour, and with all the responsibility that goes with it, but it definitely isn't about me, it's about these fellows that were able to do that and that's what we're going to strive to do in every match we play."

Kidney was pleased with how his players coped with what were frequently atrocious conditions - driving rain mixed with a cold, swirling wind.

"When we saw the conditions we knew that we could adapt to it," he said.

"There's always the balance between what you would like to do, what the weather permits you to do, what the opposition allow you to do and what's the smart thing to do.

"I thought we did that well in the first half and in the fourth quarter. But that third quarter, that probably gives us enough to work on for the rest of the week."