It's fourteen and a bit years since Warren Gatland walked into a meeting with Eddie Coleman and Philip Browne in the Berkeley Court and was told 'Thank you for all you've done for Irish rugby but we're not going to renew your contract.'
If Joe Schmidt was to move on in the morning, many would have Gatland back in a heartbeat. When asked, as part of an Ulster Bank survey of rugby fans, which of the other Six Nations they would want to coach Ireland, 40% went for the man who occupied the top job in Irish rugby between 1998 and 2001.
Given the rancour that appears to exist between Gatland and some within the Irish rugby fraternity, this is being regarded as a surprise by many. Perhaps many chose Gatty because he is simply the best known of the other coaches in the Six Nations, at least in this country.
In second spot was the similarly lippy Eddie Jones who hauled in 32% of the vote.
In one of the poll's sillier questions, they drew up a shortlist of sports stars from other sports and asked which of them they would most like to see parachuted into the Irish rugby team.
Bernard Brogan topped the poll though I can't see it myself. Conor McGregor was beaten into second place while Paddy Barnes was placed in third - presumably, no one had Paddy Barnes in mind for a second-row slot.
They had a similar poll for international celebrities, with Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson - formerly known simply as the Rock - topping the charts at 32%. Hurling aficionado and the finest actor of our time, Jason Statham came in second.
Unsurprisingly, the Millenium Stadium was picked as the favourite away venue of Irish rugby supporters, though Scottish supporters were selected as the fan-group with whom we mingle best.
Most stunningly of all, in the poll to find the rival player we'd most like to have on our side, Irish rugby supporters set aside partisan feelings and acknowledged the brilliance of England full-back Mike Brown who finished in the top five. He was the top English player in the list.
The overall winner was another full-back (they may be heaping yet more pressure on Rob Kearney) Leigh Halfpenney of Wales. Alun Wyn Jones and George North completed the top three.
Dylan Hartley came last in this particular poll.
