I have made left field hiring decisions before which have left others scratching their chins but my gut instinct has never led me wrong.

I got my first break at work down to the impressive interview I gave. The hiring manager told me later that she had already decided to give the position to someone with much more experience and was only interviewing me as a favor to a colleague who had recommended me. Apparently I won her over because she changed her mind and hired me.

You may be right but in the position she has accepted it will quickly show if she is not up to the task.