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O'Gara the early Munster favourite but bookies' list intrigues
Ronan O’Gara has emerged as the early favourite with the bookies to fill the vacancy at Munster after Johann van Grann handed in his notice on Tuesday rather than accept the two-year contract extension he had been offered by the Irish province.
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Having arrived in November 2017 as the successor to Rassie Erasmus, van Graan felt five seasons was enough for him at the club and he is now tipped for a move to Bath, the Gallagher Premiership team he was originally linked with in 2016 after he finished up as a Springboks assistant.
The big question is who will Munster now turn to and O’Gara, their two-time Heineken Cup winner as an out-half, had been identified by Paddy Power bookmakers as the 8/11 favourite in a list of possible candidates that is as long as your arm. Others to feature in the market are Ireland assistant Paul O’Connell (6/4), Munster assistant Graham Rowntree (4/1) and Racing assistant Mike Prendergast (7/1).
The list, though, gets very interesting further down with Crusaders boss Scott Robertson at 10/1 while senior Leinster coach Stuart Lancaster is at 25/1 along with Michael Cheika, the 2009 Heineken Cup-winning coach who burst Munster’s bubble in the famous Croke Park semi-final that year. Current Leinster boss Leo Cullen is also included.
O’Gara has long been linked with a prodigal son type return to Munster but he has regularly spoken about how he is still only earning his stripes in a coaching career that started out at Racing before his work under Robertson at the Crusaders was followed by a return to France where he is in his first season in sole charge at La Rochelle having initially worked there under Jono Gibbes.
Johann Van Graan will leave his post as Munster coach at the end of the season.
We've priced up who will replace him, with Ronan O'Gara the 8/11 favourite.
Find the full market here: https://t.co/lAeqG49zH9 pic.twitter.com/YLG4wqTHOg
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) December 14, 2021
The general social media reaction to van Graan’s confirmed June 2022 exit has been supportive with numerous fans wishing the South African well. His departure is the second announced by the club in recent weeks as attack coach Stephen Larkham also rebuffed a contract extension, the Australian instead deciding to take up a head coach offer at the Brumbies.
JVG is a dedicated man who bought in to the club and has moved it forward in many ways. Had it resulted in trophies? no, is it the right time to go? Probably. But so many players came along during his tenure and hopefully the framework will yield results for the next coach.
— Ed Kidney (@edk86) December 14, 2021
Well this aged badly. Van Graan & Larkham both now leaving Munster at the end of the season… https://t.co/HIBSuKVDaS
— DG (@GlavGlavin) December 14, 2021
2/2:
However, as Van Graan's statement says, now feels like the right time for both parties to part ways.
Always tough finding top coaches (Munster may well go down the route of hiring a talented assistant again), but reckon both parties will benefit from a fresh start
— EK Rugby Analysis (@ek_rugby) December 14, 2021
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Seems like Bath finally getting the coach they always wanted. They will be different gravy under Van Graan.
— David Du P (@wiehanndup) December 14, 2021
Johann van Graan will leave #MunsterRugby at the end of the current season, on completion of his current contract.
Van Graan is the 2nd longest-serving Munster coach of the professional era and led the team to 2 Champions Cup semi-finals, 3 league semi-finals, and a PRO14 final.
— EWN Sport (@EWNsport) December 14, 2021
I wonder if Mike Prendergast would fancy being the main man of a team now. Feels like it is now or never for Racing so could be a good time to leave there.
— Colin McBride (@colin_a_mcbride) December 14, 2021
Munster and Man United have a lot in common this past decade. So hard to maintain any positive momentum
Just off the back of a hugely encouraging win comes the Johann Van Graan departure news
Right replacement is so key. Could finally be the perfect timing for ROG
— Pat McCarry (@patmccarry) December 14, 2021
Van Graan leaving has left Munster at a crossroads as to where to go next season and beyond, it’ll be interesting to see who gets linked and then eventually who gets the job but whoever does is inheriting a hugely talented squad.
— The Breakdown (@TheBreakdown0) December 14, 2021
"The IRFU wish Johann well in his future career and know he will continue to give everything to Munster for the remainder of the season."
IRFU Performance Director David Nucifora has thanked Johann van Graan for his contribution to Irish Rugby ?#ShoulderToShoulder
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) December 14, 2021
I think it's reasonable to expect at least three new faces in the coaching team next season as JVG and Ferriera did arrive as a package.
I said it at the time but the contracts should have been decided and signed in the summer because going looking someone now isn't good.
— Overthehillprop (@Overthehillprop) December 14, 2021
So Johann Van Grann decides to leave #Munster. All I say is good luck and Goodbye. As long as Irish sides hire overseas coaches especially from the Southern Hemisphere that’s always a danger. Can Munster get an Irish coaching ticket? #johannvangraan
— Diarmuid (@DD2705) December 14, 2021
Personally think Munster should look at getting some of the wild geese back. Not to say RoG as i suspect unless there is an explicit out, it would cost IRFU & Munster too much.
But Munster should stop being used as a CV enhancement tool (& this from blue tinted glasses)
— Richard Collumb ????? ?? (@collumbo) December 14, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
1 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
23 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
25 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
6 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to comments