Former Ireland out-half O'Gara linked with surprise World Cup role
Ronan O’Gara has emerged as a surprise contender to link up with Jacques Brunel’s under-fire France for the World Cup in Japan.
The conclusion of the Six Nations reignited debate over whether Brunel’s back room staff needs additional help to lift itself out of the spiral that has seen them win just five of their 16 matches under the head coach who appointed in a hurry as successor to Guy Noves, who was sacked in December 2017.
The electroshock which federation president Bernard Laporte hoped would happen with the change of guard didn’t materialise, as the French have stumbled from one calamity to the next.
There were mid-Six Nations rumours that ex-French captain Fabien Galthie could be parachuted in on the coaching ticket. Brunel stood by the staff he had, but the debate has now reignited with Midi Olympique on Monday championing the case for former scrum-half’s inclusion.
Now another French newspaper, L’Equipe, has reported that Galthie isn’t the only potential candidate who could provide technical expertise in the countdown to a World Cup pool where France are drawn against England, Argentina, USA and Tonga, the island nation who surprise them at the 2011 finals in New Zealand.
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O’Gara, whose Test level coaching experience amounts to spending a week in Ireland camp in New York during 2017, could potentially link up with Brunel on a freelance basis.
The former Racing 92 defence coach is currently working for Crusaders, the defending Super Rugby champions, and would be available at the latest by the beginning of July.
The France team staff are conducting a Six Nations review from Wednesday to Friday to discuss a fourth place finish they only sealed with a shaky win over Italy in Rome. It offers the opportunity for them to consider if they need additional help, something Laporte would be willing to sanction.
“I was hoping for an electroshock, it didn’t work. In upsetting the staff because things were not going well, we were hoping for a better state of mind but the results did not follow,” said Laporte about his axing of Noves 16 months ago.
“We need to go even further in terms of content and skills. I’m here to find solutions. Things must change and I will listen to the coaches in place to know their feelings.
"I think he Jacques answered the question (about additional staff) for the Six Nations tournament but not for the World Cup. Once again, the request must come from them,” said the federation chief ahead of the post-mortem about a Six Nations where France lost to Wales, England and Ireland.
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I’ve read loads of nonsense before but this article takes the cake. Or perhaps someone changed the date for April Fool's Day.
Go to commentsReally Rugbypass? Ben Smith I think you forgot what the Springboks did to the All Blacks at Twickenham 8 weeks earlier? Springboks 35 All Blacks 7. There is alot of ifs and buts in your article. The All Blacks threw the sink at the Springboks and unfortunately they were not good enough regardless if they played with 14 men or not. It was the Springboks who forced the All Blacks to make mistakes! Sorry but not Sorry the Springboks is the best ever Rugby World Cup Nation in the world. 4 Cups baby!
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