Bernard Jackman believes former Connacht coach Conor McPhillips would be an ideal replacement for Andrew Goodman on the Leinster coaching ticket next season.
Goodman is set to step up to the role of attack and backs coach with Ireland in the summer of 2024, when he replaces the departing Mike Catt on Andy Farrell's backroom staff.
Leinster head coach Leo Cullen said on Tuesday that they were still in the very early stages of identifying the type of candidate they want, but Jackman believes there's an Irish coach out there who would be an ideal fit.
"Someone they should look at is Conor McPhillips, who's a very, very good attack coach," Jackman said on the RTÉ Rugby podcast.
The Dublin native spent more 14 years at Connacht, first as a player before becoming their lead analyst and eventually their attack coach, departing in the summer of 2017 when he followed Pat Lam to Bristol Bears.
McPhillips left Bristol in the summer, after six seasons with the Premiership side, and Jackman says he has shown his pedigree as an attack coach.
"He's doing some consultancy work now with a couple of teams and I think he’s going to be back coaching international rugby soon.
"He's someone who is a very, very good attack coach. The Connacht team who won the Pro12, Bristol Bears, some of their attack was as intricate as any attack, he won a Challenge Cup with Bristol.
"He may be someone who comes on the radar.
"I think Leinster have known about this for a good while, and there's no panic. It’s a buyer’s market for coaches at the moment, with so much change in the game and a lack of stability in certain clubs.
"Leinster will be able to recruit someone really good, but if I was doing a shortlist today he would be on it," he added.
Goodman's departure has also naturally led to calls for a swift return to Leinster for Johnny Sexton, while his younger brother Mark has also been named among the contenders for the role having impressed since taking up the attack job at Connacht this season.
"There's no doubt Johnny has all the signs of becoming a phenomenal coach. It would be a natural break in that he’ll have been away from the building for the guts of a year, having been away with Ireland.
"I don't know if it’s what he wants to do. If he wants to do it, I’m sure he’d have first choice at it.
"Certainly he’d be on any shortlist be on any shortlist if he wanted it.
"Mark would be on it as well, but it might be a little bit early for him. He seems to be enjoying the challenge at Connacht. I think Leinster will do a worldwide search, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it comes back to someone like McPhillips. He should be there or thereabouts.
"I don't think you necessarily want to rob from the provinces, but they’ll get someone good. Guy Easterby has proven himself to be pretty astute, getting Stuart and getting Nienaber, who were both left-field choices, I don't think any of us saw that coming.
"They’re well capable of getting the right man when they need to."
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