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The O'Gara verdict: Even 'touchline bickering' impresses O'Driscoll
Leinster boss Leo Cullen had better watch out in Marseille on Saturday as the legendary Brian O’Driscoll has warned that the Ronan O’Gara appetite for “touchline bickering with opposition coaches” is a trait that has enhanced his popularity with La Rochelle supporters. The 45-year-old has involved himself in a number of scrapes during his first year in charge at his French club following the departure last summer of Jono Gibbes.
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Having arrived back in France in 2020 from the Crusaders to work under the New Zealander, O’Gara took over at the club eleven months ago and he hasn’t been shy about vehemently making his point in defence of his team.
Three times this season O’Gara has been summoned to appear at Ligue Nationale de Rugby disciplinary hearings for disrespecting the authority of match officials while he was also involved in an altercation with Bordeaux boss Christophe Urios, who described O’Gara as an “insufferable” character following their early April Top 14 touchline bust-up.
O’Driscoll soldiered for more than a decade in the Ireland XV with O’Gara and he has since watched his former Test teammate’s coaching career with interest these past nine years, progress that now fascinatingly pits the proud Munsterman in opposition to Leinster in this weekend’s European final, a match that will be refereed by veteran English official Wayne Barnes.
The emergence of O’Gara as a successful coach since he finished up playing for Munster in 2013 is something that hasn’t surprised O’Driscoll and his presence in the La Rochelle camp is generating huge intrigue ahead of the Champions Cup decider versus his old foes Leinster.
“So many tens are coaches anyway, they are coaching out on the park all the time, that is what they do,” explained O’Driscoll to RugbyPass when asked why O’Gara is succeeding as the boss at La Rochelle after serving his apprenticeship as an assistant at the Crusaders and before that at Racing, the team that Leinster defeated in the 2018 final in Bilbao prior to O’Gara’s exit to Super Rugby.
“They are at the hub of everything a team does because they connect between forwards and backs, they are guiding the game plan. So much responsibility is on them to navigate the team through different parts of the game, to call so many plays, so there is a huge leadership and coaching role in that itself – and the same could be said of Johnny (Sexton).
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“You look at Felipe (Contepomi) who is on the coaching ticket at Leinster, who played at ten. You are doing it the whole time and particularly when you have got the experience that Rog has and what he has gone away and learned at Racing and Crusaders and now at La Rochelle, it doesn’t surprise me greatly that he has had a lot of success.
“You can’t guarantee that in your coaching progression but he seems to be doing all the right things, saying all the right things, getting your own supporters onside by a bit of touchline bickering with opposition coaches. Even that stuff endears you to your own and might wind up the opposition. He is a clever guy that knows what he wants from his team.”
- BT Sport is the home of the European Rugby Champions Cup. The 2021/22 season concludes this weekend with Leinster vs Stade Rochelais live on BT Sport 2 at 4pm on Saturday, May 28. Find out more on how to watch at BT Sport bt.com/sport
Comments on RugbyPass
A 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?
11 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.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 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.
24 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
4 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 commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments