1
Paul O'Connell addresses rumours linking him with Munster return
Ireland great Paul O’Connell has dashed hopes that he will be returning to Munster anytime soon, ruling himself out of the running for the soon-to-be-vacant position of head coach role.
ADVERTISEMENT
Current Munster head honcho Johann van Graan will leave the province at the end of the current season to take over the reins at ailing Gallagher Premiership outfit Bath.
Since Van Graan’s exit was made public, speculation has been rife as to who will take up the role of the famous Limerick-based side. Both O’Connell and fellow Munster legend Ronan O’Gara had been heavily linked with a return to the province in what is one of the most high-profile roles in Irish sport.
But now both have effectively ruled themselves out of the running, with O’Connell saying he doesn’t feel he is qualified to take over the role.
The 42-year-old, who was capped 108 times by Ireland and played at four World Cups, took on the role of forwards coach with the national team 12 months ago. The ex-lock took over from former teammate Simon Easterby. Despite lifting the Heineken Champions Cup with Munster in 2006 and 2008, the Limerick man doesn’t feel he’s ready to make a prodigal return to the set-up.
“Well, look, I won’t be doing it,” O’Connell told The 2 Johnnies podcast. “I wouldn’t be qualified to do it. I was saying the other day, it’s like a guy if you were good at pulling pints being asked to run the bar! They’re two different things. I don’t know who will end up doing it.
“I don’t know. Munster is a very special thing to me. I’d have to feel very right and very qualified to go and do it.
ADVERTISEMENT
“I just have the most amazing memories with Munster and I’d hate to ever hurt them by getting involved and not doing a good job of it.”
In December O’Gara – who is admittedly further along in his coaching career than O’Connell – said that he would be honouring his current contract with La Rochelle in the Top 14.
Meanwhile former Munster and Ireland head coach Declan Kidney, who now presides over London Irish, is yet to officially rule himself out.
He told the press last month that: “Jobs like that and positions like that, there is always going to be speculation and I am very happy here at London Irish and I enjoy working with the lads. I have too much respect for my present job and for Munster and the Irish RFU to get into any hypothetical conversation.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Last week Munser forwards coach Graham Rowntree agreed a two-year extension to his contract and could potentially be in the running for the top job.
“I have made my thoughts about this club widely known throughout my time so far, and for me and my family it really has been an easy decision – a non-decision if truth be told,” Rowntree told Munster’s official website. “We’ve put down roots here and have no desire to move anywhere else.
“I know there will be coaching personnel changes at the end of this season, but from where I’m standing I know that we have everything in place for continued development and success.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Beautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to comments