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O'Gara shares dream of winning RWC, but not necessarily with Ireland
La Rochelle boss Ronan O’Gara has set his sights on winning a World Cup in the future as a coach.
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The 128-cap former Ireland international has won the biggest prizes in the club game from back-to-back Super Rugby titles as an assistant coach at the Crusaders to leading La Rochelle to back-to-back Investec Champions Cups, and now has the Webb Ellis Cup in his crosshairs.
Speaking on the “Super Moscato Show” on French radio station RMC, he made it quite clear that he wants to win the international trophy that eluded him as a player, but isn’t fussed who he wins it with.
The Munster legend is viewed by many as the Ireland coach in waiting, but he said in the interview that he likes the idea of coaching France too.
O’Gara has not objected to the notion of coaching teams other than Ireland in the Test arena, and was even attracted to the England job following Eddie Jones’ sacking in 2022.
“At the moment, I would like to have the ability to win the World Cup,” he said, as reported by French outlet Midi Olympique (translated by Google).
“I dream of winning things, whether with Ireland or I like France. I’m not French. I’m trying to prove myself and put my name in this debate. It’s possible that for Ireland, the next coach will be a New Zealander, a Southerner, African or an Australian, that’s how it is.”
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The idea of working under a coach in Test rugby is out of the question now for O’Gara, who said he now has the “taste” of being head coach.
“Being a member of the staff? No, I don’t think so,” he added.
“When you get a taste of the number 1 position, of these responsibilities, it’s difficult.”
Despite the huge success O’Gara has experienced on the west coast of France, he admitted that “everything is not good” currently after crashing out of the Champions Cup at the hands of Leinster and then losing to Castres at the weekend.
La Rochelle are clinging onto a play-off berth in the Top 14 by the skin of their teeth currently, placed in sixth, as they chase down a title they have never won in their history, let alone while O’Gara has been in charge.
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But the Irishman said that only La Rochelle and Toulouse have a culture of winning, which he hopes will help his side out as they reach the climax of the season.
“We have already won two European Cup titles but that is not enough , even if some think that is enough. I am a liar if I say that everything is good because everything is not good […] In the Top 14, it is in the crisis that you find something that you don’t know about your team.
“If we are not efficient, we will not be in the six. If we are, the only other team which has the culture of winning is Toulouse. But currently it is 70/30 against them, but if we reach the final, it will be 50/50 The other teams have not won titles and this liability will count in the rest of the competition.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The Black Ferns 7’s have been without Captain Sarah Hirini now since Dec 23 in Dubai where she suffered a bad ACL injury - hopefully she is on the road to recovery for Madrid and Paris. Now also have Tyler King and Shiray kaka on the Injured List but the Team still found a way to win in Singapore and claim the overall Title.
1 Go to commentsUtter grub, hope he gets his leg broken. Shocking he is still playing after intentionally breaking quinn tupaeas knee
2 Go to commentsGreat to see NZ 7s teams finally coming into form and playing at the level that is expected of them.
2 Go to commentsChief Cheapshot on the market again.
2 Go to commentsCrusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
10 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
10 Go to commentsEnd to end play, “THE FANS” this game was entertainment of the best. The conditions added to the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsSorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
10 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
3 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
3 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
3 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
3 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
3 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to commentsSeeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
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