Ronan O'Gara

hawley · 01-03-2025 03:27PM #1

Do people think that ROG will come under pressure at La Rochelle if they don't see a pretty quick upturn in their fortunes. Looks like they're going to lose against Stade Francais today(19-3 at halftime). Maybe he has enough credit in the bank to survive a mediocre season. Think that they had five players in the last French squad and had a few starters. If they lose today, it's seven losses out of eight for him.

CMOTDibbler · 01-03-2025 04:21PM

He's not helping himself with public declarations of interest in international jobs.

Obviously he's entitled to put himself forward for them, but he could do that quietly. La Rochelle owners might feel he's already got one foot out the door and help him on his way.

hawley · 01-03-2025 04:29PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123222533#Comment_123222533

This is their team from today. Pretty strong fifteen. He has also said that he thinks that the team might not be playing for him. Maybe linked to his declarations of interest in other jobs.

hawley · 02-03-2025 07:08AM

La Rochelle president Vincent Merling is not one to rush into senior staff changes: O’Gara, who has been in the top job since 2021, is the club’s third head coach since 2011 – but there were closed-door crisis meetings at the club’s Macif Park training ground early this week. Unlike Stade, La Rochelle chose not to change coaches mid-season. For now, at least.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rugby/arid-41584891.html

Some comments from ROG show that he's thinks that he's at risk of being fired. Looks like he'll be allowed see out the season anyway. A couple of their star players are starting to look a bit slow.

StormForce13 · 04-03-2025 04:22PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123224200#Comment_123224200

I'd imagine that a home loss to Munster in Europe would definitely mean his P45. Especially if they're not back in the top 6 by then.

hawley · 05-03-2025 04:08AM

ROG signs a monster 16 year old from Australia. Considering that he put his name in the hat for the Australian job recently, this isn't likely to help his chances. Rugby Australia is quite upset over the move.

https://www.theroar.com.au/2025/03/04/chase-your-dreams-204cm-147kg-16-year-old-signs-with-french-club-after-being-cleared-for-lift-off-by-rugby-australia/

pickarooney · 05-03-2025 09:47AM

That kids weighs 100kg more than my 16 year old…

PMC83 · 05-03-2025 10:23AM

TBF at 16 there was plenty of time for a deal to be offered in Australia even if one wasn't immediately on the table. Looks like Australia wanted to see how he went before signing him up. Bit of a knee jerk reaction from his folks.

I'm not sure it will hurt O'garas chances with that job too much.

Hey_Ho_Lets_Go_3 · 05-03-2025 10:25AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123233051#Comment_123233051

Yeah he has no hope of getting it.

Cookiemunster · 05-03-2025 10:30AM

I'd be pretty confident that he had diddly squat to do with the academy signing a 16 year old.

PMC83 · 05-03-2025 10:32AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123233058#Comment_123233058

why?

Ben Bailey · 05-03-2025 01:06PM

Relatively poor season last year, finishing 5th in Top14 & losing in Europe to Leinster at quarter final stage.

This season they are still in Top14 Barrage positions and have a home last 16 game in EPCR.

Since 2019 (when ROG replaced Garbajosa) Stade have 2 EPCR wins & 1 Runner Up, and 2 Top14 Final Runner Up.

I can see no way that ROG is asked / told to move on.

Podge_irl · 05-03-2025 01:32PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123233652#Comment_123233652

This season they are still in Top14 Barrage positions

They're in 9th? Albeit its close in mid-table if you mean they are still in contention.

Two poor years (getting progressively worse) would certainly put you on the hot seat.

Ben Bailey · 05-03-2025 04:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123233737#Comment_123233737

Yeah, currently 9th & 2 points off Barrage. Still don't reckon they'll lose faith in O'Gara. Maybe if no Champions Cup next season, but even then ..

sprucemoose · 05-03-2025 07:11PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123233652#Comment_123233652

i would agree if it wasnt a french club in question, they tend to be a little more fickle like that

hawley · 22-03-2025 04:33PM

A 12 all draw at home today, against Castres. Only one win in ten now. They had most of their main stars on the paddock today. They are away to Clermont next weekend. ROG seemed very passive and lacking in energy on the sideline. Will need a big turnabout to see a successful end to the season.

sydthebeat · 22-03-2025 06:18PM

What's worse....

12-3 up after 15 mins and failed to score for the last 65 mins, at home.

Boos on the final whistle.

This season is looking like big trouble to reach the play offs.

Away to Clermont (who will keep frog then today if their score remains), then home to Bayonne and then away to Bordeaux.

They could easily lose those three games

Zeugnis · 22-03-2025 10:29PM

Would be great to see Munster send them out the door in Europe.

Podge_irl · 22-03-2025 10:33PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123288448#Comment_123288448

It's unlikely given the travails Munster themselves now face, but it's far from impossible.

He wouldn't be the first coach to go through something like this and recover, but it is clear that whatever he is doing is not working at the moment.

niallm77 · 26-03-2025 01:05PM

Rumours abound that ROG is getting sacked and the bayonne coach is lined up to replace him

AbusesToilets · 26-03-2025 02:24PM

Be some fall from grace. Things must really have soured in his relationship with the players or owners.

Clegg · 26-03-2025 02:50PM

There doesn't necessarily need to have been a souring of relationships or a falling out. Coaches eventually reach a point where the players are no longer receptive to your messages.

ROG has been with La Rochelle since 2019 so it shouldn't really be that surprising that his players may not longer be as inspired by him.

Clegg · 26-03-2025 03:01PM

La Rochelle's style of play is where ROG deserves a lot of flack though.

They really haven't changed all that much in recent years and it's been pretty clear for the last few seasons that they no longer have the pack to monster over the opposition. At their best they were fierce at the breakdown, had a strong set piece and huge carriers that could get over the gain line even from a standing start.

The pack has aged out and can no longer do the things that made them great. Leinster have beaten them three times in a row and La Rochelle every time have tried to replicate their tactics that won them the 2022 and 2023 finals. It just hasn't worked. Leinster looked physically superior in every game. That match between the two in January just gone now looks like the last roll of the dice for ROG and La Rochelle. They went 7-1 off the bench and threw everything at Leinster. They nearly won with a drop goal at the end that was blocked down. But it's notable that even with 7 forwards off the bench they never gained any sort of physical superiority.

That failure to evolve is a black mark against ROG.

bingobango12 · 26-03-2025 04:14PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123300195#Comment_123300195

You have summed my thoughts pretty well on why I don't think he would be a good head coach for Ireland.

He won those Champions Cups by having a pack of monsters and now that the pack aren't as powerful, he hasn't seemed to have been able to adapt their game plan. Ireland typically don't have a pack of huge forwards so unless he can show he is able to change style, he wouldn't be a good fit in my opinion.

26-03-2025 04:29PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123300195#Comment_123300195

Agreed. I think this led to a bigger issue where his own players already realised this last season and are struggling for motivation now. Despite some ageing, they're still less than the sum of their parts. The style of relentless physical rugby they played at their peak doesn't leave much room to hide if you're not up for a game.

ersatz · 26-03-2025 05:57PM

In fairness to ROG he succeeded in building a very good team by recruiting players. Once his pack got on the wrong side of 30 he ran out of road with them but that first team and the Euoprean success wasn't an accident. He just didn't know how to evolve or maybe he didn't have the resources to refresh the team as needed. Botia, Bougarit, and Antonio may be the only forwards he inherited. He brought in some great players/.

clsmooth · 30-03-2025 07:58AM

Another loss for LAR last night. That’s 7 defeats and 1 draw out of the last 8. Their last win was against Toulouse B at home on 04/01 with a last minute penalty.

Is ROG still appearing on OTB and if so, has he talked about their form? Great opportunity for Munster to go over there and hopefully turn them over.

MelonHead88 · 30-03-2025 08:38AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123300148#Comment_123300148

Yeah it's no surprise really if the players have reached that stage of no longer being inspired by him, given his open and persistent expressions of interest in international coaching jobs while still under contract at LAR.

Akrasia · 30-03-2025 10:29AM

If Munster knock them out of Europe next weekend then Surely thats Rog out of a job.

Maybe he can get a gig at Connacht covering Wilkins sick leave

PMC83 · 30-03-2025 10:32AM

I wonder what the powers that be at Lar make of his media work, nixers all well and good when they day job is huming, but they look to be in a tricky spot now

JanuarySnowstor · 30-03-2025 10:57AM

Munster have a great chance now next weekend. They are starting to reach form at the right time. Rog has been quite negative about Munster last few months and Crowley also. Not worth coaching vibe and he certainly wasn't interested in what we had. Revenge is a dish best served cold

I'd say O'mahony has been waiting for this one since the game was announced. May rhe best team win in what's surely going to be a cracker! We have nothing to fear

Ronan O'Gara

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