Gerry Thornleybelieves the IRFU's examination process is akin to awarding a student an A+ before he sits his finals.

For Eddie O'Sullivan, this is possibly his sweetest deal yet. Another four-year extension before his current one expires, and even before the acid, end-of-cycle test of a World Cup, and after 69 matches and six years in charge already, must make him the envy of all other coaches in the game.

By the projected end of his tenure, presuming there isn't another extension four years' hence, his reign will have extended to a decade, incorporating 120-odd matches, 10 Six Nations' campaigns and three World Cups. Already Ireland's longest serving coach, if he sees out his latest deal, he'll comfortably be the longest serving coach in the world.

As regards O'Sullivan himself, you could hardly blame him for seeking additional security in such a risky profession. That it reputedly comes with a significant hike in his estimated annual salary of €250,000 is all the better for him, and good luck to him.

The latest four-year contract extension comes with the added sweetener of a sabbatical should he succeed in his stated ambition of becoming the next Lions' coach to South Africa in 2009. Although IRFU chief executive Philip Browne wouldn't discuss the contingency plans should that come to pass, it is widely assumed Niall O'Donovan will temporarily step up from assistant coach. That is what happened for the two Tests to Japan in 2005, when O'Sullivan was one of the coterie of coaching assistants to Clive Woodward, though this time O'Donovan would probably have to take over for a year or more.

Presumably O'Sullivan, who seems to hold a remarkable sway over his employers, would also have a say in whether another coach would be temporarily added to the ticket, and whom that might be.

The Lions' appointment won't be made until around the turn of the year, and while O'Sullivan would rightly be favourite for the post at this juncture, were the World Cup to change that scenario he still has the job security of a handsome deal with the IRFU.

Quite what's in it for the IRFU and what prompted the key power-brokers, Noel Murphy, Pat Whelan, Neilly Jackson and those who "sat in" on the decision, Browne, Eddie Wigglesworth and John Hussey, is less obvious. There's the comfort factor in having the man they know in situ, and were Ireland to have a fantastic World Cup, it may look a shrewd decision, as well as being reward for what they see as a job well done so far.

But given there were no other offers on the table, and the current deal had afforded them another four months and a Six Nations' campaign to evaluate their options, their rush seems curious.

It will certainly take the pressure off O'Sullivan and his back-up team for the forthcoming World Cup, though whether that will have a positive or negative impact is a moot point. Certainly one couldn't imagine any other leading rugby union or federation doing this. In fact, none of them have.

The IRFU are, of course, emulating their decision of four years ago, not to mention the initial six-year deal they gave Brian Ashton. The FAI took a similar leap of faith with Mick McCarthy before the 2002 World Cup, as did the English FA with Sven-Goran Eriksson in 2006.

Four years ago, this reporter incurred the wrath of the head coach, captain and others for simply questioning what O'Sullivan's then extension would mean for Declan Kidney. Events proved them to be valid questions as Kidney flirted with a glorified union desk job, Ulster and the Dragons before ending up with Leinster for a year and finally returning to Munster.

Now, despite delivering the Heineken European Cup, one wonders what the future holds for him, or Michael Bradley in Connacht and Mark McCall in Ulster. Do they just stay in situ for another four years as well? Browne appeared to have no answer to this question yesterday, and one wonders if any of the key decision-makers have thought this through. No movement in the small pool of elite professional coaching runs the risk of becoming stale and stagnant. It doesn't create a very competitive environment, and is it good business practice for the IRFU to rule them and all foreign coaches out of consideration?

There must also be a risk of things becoming stale within the Irish squad over a period of 10 years and well over a century of matches, and all this after a two-year, 18-match tenure as assistant/backs' coach. Undoubtedly O'Sullivan has mellowed, evolved and changed during his tenure, and given players more licence to play and express their views. But whereas previous generations of players will have served under three or four, or even five, coaches, a golden generation of Irish players will now have known only one head coach.

Others, such as Bob Casey and Jeremy Staunton, will probably feel like retiring. Browne talked yesterday of dealing in four-year cycles, which is fair enough, although the union's examination process is akin to awarding a student an A+ before he sits his finals.