Earlier this week, Ronan O'Gara gave an intriguing insight into where he sees his coaching career going should he depart La Rochelle after his contract expires in 2027.
The Corkman has transformed La Rochelle into one of Europe's biggest sides, bringing two Champions Cup crowns to the French seaside town. His exploits with the club have made him one of the most sought-after coaches in world rugby.
He has repeatedly hinted at his desire to work in international rugby ultimately. However, this week he shut down any suggestion he could be the man to turn around Wales' dire fortunes of late.
After La Rochelle's opening night Champions Cup win, O'Gara said, "I haven’t thought about that, to be honest with you. Without lacking humility, I’d prefer Ireland, England or France."
Ireland, England and France currently sit in 2nd, 4th, and 7th in the world rankings respectively, while Wales are languishing in 11th, barely ahead of Georgia, after a 2024 which saw them go winless.
O'Gara's comments this week, coupled with Wales' dire form, prompted a pointed tweet from Mike Phillips, an old enemy to Ireland fans.
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Mike Phillips throws dig at Warren Gatland in Ronan O'Gara pitch
In the 2011 Six Nations, scrum-half Mike Phillips was the mastermind behind a hugely contentious win for Wales over Ireland in Cardiff. Phillips took a line-out quickly - but illegally - leading directly to Wales' game-winning try.
He became a pantomime villain in Irish rugby circles from then on - though his pointed tweet towards Warren Gatland may have softened the stance of a few Irish fans towards him.
I don’t think he realises, if you coach Wales you get £600k a year for losing every game! Who wouldn’t take that! 🤔 Plus if you win a few, you get some gates named after you! pic.twitter.com/jOOgGoSq1D
— Mike Phillips (@mikephillips009) December 10, 2024
After Ronan O'Gara said he would "prefer" the opportunity to coach one of Wales' Six Nations rivals, Mike Phillips tweeted:
I don't think he realises, if you coach Wales you get £600k a year for losing every game! Who wouldn't take that!
Plus if you win a few, you get some gates named after you!
No doubt as to who Phillips' tweet was aimed at there.
It was made all the more pointed by the fact that the former Ospreys and Racing 92 scrum-half played under Gatland in a Welsh jersey for eight years and on the 2013 Lions tour to Australia.
The "gates" referred to by Phillips are located outside the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and were named in Warren Gatland's honour after his third Grand Slam as Wales head coach in his final year in charge in 2019.
Since returning to the job ahead of the 2023 Six Nations, things have been far tougher for Gatland. Under his stewardship, they have claimed just one Six Nations win in two years, and have not won a test game since the pool stages of last year's World Cup.
Ronan O'Gara could no doubt do a job with Wales. However, you'd imagine he will not be too quick in taking up Mike Phillips' tongue-in-cheek offer.
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