The Internet is in awe of Ronan O’Gara after this interview

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Ronan O’Gara has become part of Irish sports folklore for many moments in an Irish jersey. But his foray into coaching is becoming more and more intriguing.

The former Munster player would have been in high spirits after his La Rochelle team defeated Gloucester in the Champions Cup on Friday night. After the game, he was interviewed by the BT Sport team.

What soon followed was a clever, tactical insight into how the ROG brain works. It was fascinating. First, you were asked about the effortless nature of unloading your computer.

I think it’s a way of thinking, it’s something that interests me a lot. I think there’s a massive ruck in the Northern Hemisphere and then when you go to the Crusaders, it’s KBA – keep the ball alive. And that’s something that interests me myself.

The former Irish No. 10 spent two seasons as an assistant coach for the New Zealand team. It is clear that he has brought an element of that southern hemisphere style to his training in France.

We are trying to pick up speed with the ball and keep it alive. There is a risk with that, but you have to weigh the risk and the reward, and we were good at times and we were inaccurate at times, but that’s the beauty of the game.

O’Gara was then asked how the players had responded to his coaching style. O’Gara smiles and says, “You should ask them,” followed by a laugh. Then there is more information about your approach.

It is interesting to teach or train. You have to keep persisting with your message, but you can’t have too many messages. So, us with the ball there is a great focus on identifying the space. Obviously we look to go through them or get out of them or throw a ball in the air if they have 14 on the front line.

He continues:

There are always decisions to be made and that is something you will never get right, but if we get most of them right, you have a good chance.

Then Ugo Monye asks if an excellent Ronan O’Gara would enjoy playing the style of rugby seen on the field last night. O’Gara admits that his game plan is often dictated with his playing days in mind.

I think it is an advantage. Every time I create a game plan or ideas, I put myself there. So what would I like? And then, conversely, what would I not like the opposition to do to me?

His La Rochelle team have now booked a Champions Cup quarter-final appearance with Scarlets or Sale Sharks.

See also: Matt Williams’ stories about Scotland’s chaos don’t go well across the water



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