In what will be a poignant occasion at Thomond Park later today, Munster face Racing 92 in a first home game since the anniversary of Anthony Foley's death.
Ronan O'Gara will be in the stadium, and will be allowed to fully roam the ground he calls come - his ten-match suspension applicable to Top 14 games only.
Ahead of his return home, O'Gara has spoken to David Kelly of the Irish Independent about that return home, and coping with the loss of Foley. O'Gara is as forthright and compelling as always, and the interview in full can be read in today's paper. (They've teased it with this excerpt online).
O'Gara has always been honest in his ambition: to one day return home from his self-imposed exile in France to coach Munster. His name was naturally mentioned as a potential successor to Rassie Erasmus when the South African announced he was returning home, but ultimately the job has gone to a compatriot of Erasmus: Johan Van Graan.
When the subject of the Munster job comes up, O'Gara is honest: he feels he is not yet ready for the gig. ROG being ROG, he won't countenance a spell at Munster that will not be laureled with silver.
He sums this up nicely:
The title of being Munster coach doesn't interest me. Being a winning Munster coach is all that should matter.
I would need to make sure I give myself and the team the best chance of winning titles.
It will happen some day. Just not yet.
Munster and Racing kick off at 5.30pm this evening.
See Also: IRFU Issues Statement Clarifying Position Regarding Women's Head Coach
