Kidney was immediately under pressure ahead of the Championships after he controversially axed legendary centre Brian O’Driscoll as skipper and handed the armband to No.8 Jamie Heaslip.

A loss of form and some debilitating injuries didn’t help his cause, with many former Ireland internationals, pundits and supporters alike suggesting Kidney’s tenure as international boss should come to an end this summer.

O’Mahony thinks differently though and has called for Kidney not to be made a scapegoat for a below-par Championships.

"The players should take the blame for what's happened,” he said. “We've been given every opportunity to go out and play for Ireland.

 "It has to come down to the players; I don't know where the stick aimed at the coaches is coming from.
"All 23 of us in the squad against Italy and everyone in the extended training squad are 100 per cent behind the coaching staff.

“That will be the case until they move on, which hopefully won't be any time soon."