Throwing in the towel and Munster Rugby may have never been mentioned in the same breath before. But as the Irish province continues to suck up a 27-7 defeat to Stade Francais with 17 of the French points coming in the second half, when they were a man down, the accusation of capitulation is something a proud side must now confront.

But needs must and yesterday's session with David Wallace was tinged with irony. As the former Munster, Ireland and Lions flanker spoke for Swim Ireland's Swim for a mile Challenge, his former team appeared to be sinking below the surface.

Outside voice

An inexperienced management may need an outside voice and with

Declan Kidney

currently Director of Sport and Physical Activity at UCC and

Andy Farrell

kicking his heels until he takes up with Ireland after the

Six Nations

, why not apply some synergy.

Any sort of move like that would require standing on toes but Wallace is not averse to the idea. Kidney and a root and branch review then.

“I’ve been saying it for a while that he’s an invaluable guy to have in any squad,” said Wallace. “When I was coming through in terms of getting a team together and building a team he’s brilliant.

“He comes from a teacher background but is also a guidance counsellor and he understands how people think. He tries to create a community and makes sure that everything is looked after.

“He looks at it from maybe a slightly different point of view from your typical rugby coach. It’s just all about what’s on the pitch. It’s kinda three quarters of what’s off the pitch and that’s the way he thinks.

“I think having him involved in Munster is always a benefit. He’s still involved in sport down in UCC, running things there. He certainly still has a lot to offer.”

Wallace who played alongside Munster coach Anthony Foley in the provincial and Ireland backrow concedes that not unlike Leo Cullen in Leinster, Foley lacks some experience in the role of head coach.

He also know Foley’s character and believes the he should consider seeking an outside voice and take on board as much experience as he feels could help steady a listing Munster ship.

By virtue of questions even being asked about Munster heads going down and their spirit being broken indicates that a malaise may have crept in. Wallace believes that Foley might be open to, not just Kidney but a character like Farrell lending some experience.

“I hope so. I think it’s a great time to be broaching it. This should be seen as a silver lining. It can be a catalyst for change and for doing things better,” said Wallace.

“Why not look at all the options and all the avenues and see where they can make the best and the quickest gains.

“It (Munster coaching staff) is very inexperienced. I think all those guys are brilliant rugby brains.

“Their work rate is fantastic as well in terms of their coaching but I suppose when you look at it from afar, Axel (Foley) is in his first head coach role and all his other deputies are in their first professional roles really.

“You would think that Axel does need some help in terms of someone who has been there and done it before. Maybe Axel being the head coach and creating a director of rugby above him or whatever it is . . . I don’t know what way is best to work it.”

It’s a brazen enough suggestion as coaches tend to be proprietorial about their positions and just as hubris filled and driven as the players around them. But so too are Munster known for their humility, which is where they often gain their strength.

Sometimes an alternative sounding board hits the right notes, Kidney with his strong connections with the province and Farrell’s experience with Saracens and England and soon to be an employee the IRFU makes some sense.

‘That perspective’

“Yeah, sometimes when you’re in it (squad), that perspective is gone,” he says. “Somebody who’s been on the outside can weigh up all those opinions. It is a bubble that they (coaches and players) live in, unfortunately.

“Maybe they read a bit of the press but in terms of the public, they’ll only get one side of things. Obviously other people say things as well but not directly to their face and that’s a difficult place to be because it can be hard to know where you stand.”

But it’s not just Foley. Munster Inc and Ireland Inc, are also in the dock.

“They take a lot of ownership but it doesn’t stop with them,” says Wallace. “There are people above them as well. The whole structure does need to be looked at.”