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: