Munster's resurgence this season has captured the attention, and naturally, it is not evading the onlooking gaze of Ronan O'Gara, who appears to be increasingly exasperated with life with Racing in France.
Despite last season's successes: a Top 14 title, along with an appearance in the Champions Cup final, Racing have been a mess at times this season. They have had to contend with the bizarre story of Johan Goosen taking flight in the middle of the season, have been utterly uncompetitive in Europe, and are ninth in the Top 14.
After Racing's shellacking at home to Munster, O'Gara gave a dejected interview to Sky Sports in which he lamented his side's limp performance, even going as far as questioning the age profile of Racing's recruits. It has always been expected that O'Gara would return to coach in Ireland, and that prospect seems like happening sooner rather than later.
After Munster's dramatic, nerve-shredding victory over Glasgow last weekend, a result which confirmed progress to the quarter-finals, O'Gara tweeted his delight:
Well done @Munsterrugby and it's supporters. 16th time the Club has qualified for the knockout stages.Incredible consistency.#weareallproud
— Ronan O Gara (@RonanOGara10) January 14, 2017
BT's Rugby Tonight raised the tweet with Brian O'Driscoll, who responded to the question asking if that's a tweet of a homesick man with the following, delivered through a wide grin:
D'you think he is trying to keep his hand in with him!? It's the old 'Yeah, I'm over in France, and Racing are my team...but they [Munster] are really my team!
Yeah, it's inevitable that at some stage ROG will come back. I think he has been smart to go over and learn his trade away from Munster. Obviously they are going great guns and he is a fond follower of them. They are his second team, allegedly, although it's not great if they are in your group!
Watch below:
O'Driscoll went on to shower Munster in praise, citing the form of the front five, which has surprised him:
In an area I thought they had a perceived weakness - I thought at the start of the season that with the front five they had that no way could they win the European Cup - now it seems to be their strength. Their front row will be pushing hard for Irish honours. Donnacha Ryan looks like a man possessed, while Billy Holland got capped in November.
I think they are in great shape, and if they can keep key individuals fit: Conor Murray is still a massive performer for them, Tyler Blyendaal has been huge for them too. They are ticking along nicely, they always like to slip in under the radar, but they are back to the old Munster way and will be a bloody hard team to beat in this competition.
