Ronan O'Gara's departing message to the Crusaders ahead of Super Rugby final
By Patrick McKendry, NZ Herald
Ronan O’Gara’s time with the Crusaders is coming to an end. The former Lions test first-five will head to France in a few days for a new coaching job but he isn’t about to shut the door on a return to Christchurch.
And, no matter the result of the Super Rugby final between his side and the Jaguares in Christchurch tonight, he will be welcomed back.
O’Gara is without question the highest profile foreign former international to take a Super Rugby coaching job in New Zealand and he has made a mark in Christchurch both with his quality as a coach but also his humility and openness to experience new ways of doing things.
The 42-year-old former first-five, who played 130 tests and is Ireland’s highest test points scorer, had a hard act to follow at the start of last season when replacing Leon MacDonald, who went to the Blues.
But he quickly adapted and made his own mark with his sharp instincts and delivery, particularly on defence, where he brought in a new system which revolved around watching the ball more than the opposition player, a relative revolution in the small world of New Zealand rugby.
“Yesterday I had a bit of a sad moment but you have to snap back into reality,” O’Gara said as he reflected on his departure.
“It’s a special club. I attacked it at the start and thankfully a few of the boys got on board with my ideas and we grew but if we don’t do the business [tonight] it doesn’t count for anything.”
Asked whether he had a message for supporters and the city in general, O’Gara, who has five children, said: “If the school is an example of the people of Christchurch, it was brilliant.
“They were so friendly and accommodating and warm. Obviously what happened earlier in the year … the resilience of the people, the warmth of the people — great people, fantastic area. For me, I am young, I feel there will be a twist in it and I’ll be back. In that regard I’ve given it my best shot and hopefully the boys will feel the same. It will be with a heavy heart that I leave.”
O’Gara has given such value during his two years at the Crusaders alongside Robertson, and the pair have become so closely aligned, that it’s not too difficult to imagine them both coaching the All Blacks at some stage and probably fairly soon.
Steve Hansen’s successor won’t be known until after the World Cup, and while O’Gara’s departure as head coach of La Rochelle (a club Hansen played for) may make things a little more complicated in terms of Robertson’s ascension to the top job, stranger things have happened. O’Gara presumably has a clause in his contract whereby a top international coaching offer takes precedence.
O’Gara has one final job to do in Christchurch and he can leave satisfied that he has done everything he can to bring title No 10 to the Crusaders. If they beat the Jaguares, Robertson will be the first coach to win three titles in a row, and given the issues in Christchurch this year and the closeness of the competition, that would be quite an achievement.
This article first appeared on nzherald.co.nz and is republished with permission.
Crusaders pre-Super Rugby final press conference:
Comments on RugbyPass
No Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
18 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
18 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to comments