I don’t get cranky anymore. New Zealand and the Crusaders buried all that. I have learned that connecting with people is the cornerstone of good coaching.

The Super Rugby season kicks off tomorrow Down Under. But I’d like to talk about Tim Bateman.

In the 19th minute of the pivotal Pool 4 Champions Cup meeting in Paris last Sunday, JJ Hanrahan and his Munster colleagues jogged back behind halfway to receive a Racing 92 restart.

Canterbury Crusaders coach Scott Robertson has again gone overseas to complete his coaching group.

Matt Faddes is one of of the few players who won’t be burdened this weekend by Ulster’s many crushing RDS defeats by Leinster.

There was certainly no WH Auden moment in New Zealand when it was announced that Ian Foster would be the new All Blacks head coach.

Being a strong advocate of Scott Robertson to replace Steve Hansen as All Blacks coach does not mean Ian Foster is not the right fit in my eyes.

Johann van Graan is not sugar-coating the concern within Munster about Tyler Bleyendaal’s return to the sidelines with another neck injury.

In the throes of the action, I’ll be like every other fan, intrigued by Racing 92’s Heineken Cup visit to Thomond Park tomorrow.

Having been through the wringer as often as he has in his rugby career, Tyler Bleyendaal has learned to make the most of his on-field opportunities when they arise and this weekend will be no exception.

New Zealand Rugby is recruiting for Steve Hansen's replacement and has approached 26 coaches, all New Zealanders, about applying for the role.

The Irish Football Association has shot down proposals for a All-Island Football League.

Club captain Derek Pender is pleased to have Bohemiams “back where they belong” in Europe before he hangs up his boots after Sligo Rovers visit Dalymount Park tonight.

That New Zealand have stated they will target Johnny Sexton is hardly a galloping shock. Johnny’s had that for a lot of his career, but it remains fundamentally important to Ireland’s chances today that he is on the pitch for 60-65 minutes.

Ireland are about to find out there is something radically different about the All Blacks they will face in today's World Cup quarter-final compared with the team they played last November.

All Blacks fly-half Richie Mo’unga has spoken about his debt of gratitude to former Crusaders coach Ronan O’Gara while admitting he barely understood a word the Corkman told him.

The history of sporting tournaments is littered with tales of players and teams who broke a glass ceiling but ultimately fell away before the summit was attained. The lesson seems to be that the fairytale, captivating as it may be, rarely has a happy ending.

No one could know it at the time but Ireland’s relationship with the All Blacks changed irrevocably in November of 2013.

No-one could know it at the time but Ireland's relationship with the All Blacks changed irrevocably in November of 2013.

Maybe it says everything about the way the All Blacks are that the day after they learned their final pool game against Italy had been cancelled, they woke up super early and battered themselves senseless in a training game.

This becomes a delicate balancing act now. There are some very smart people in the Irish backroom team with Joe Schmidt, but this is mostly about the Irish players and the World Cup. You can see the confidence is skin deep at the moment, it’s not in their bones.

The 39-year-old, who scored nine times in 80 appearances for his country and played at Euro 2016, was a free agent after leaving Rangers at the end of last season.

Ronan O'Gara's latest Irish Examiner column picked up by official All Blacks website.

The Leinster flyer says he took four years to get the operation done, after first injuring his shoulder in a tackle on Crusaders flanker Jordan Taufua in 2015.

Ronan O’Gara, speaking at the Irish Examiner Rugby World Cup Tournament Preview last Monday, has said there are “question marks” over the make-up of New Zealand’s best backline, as Steve Hansen’s side prepare for their Pool B showdown against South Africa on Saturday.

Had a thought this morning. If Joe Schmidt was offered a pass on tomorrow’s final World Cup warm-up game against Warren Gatland’s Wales in Dublin, would he take it?

Brian Kerr believes that even a modest increase in the recruitment of foreign players would help brighten up the League of Ireland.

Ronan O’Gara is still getting his bearings, and no surprise there.

The Munster and Ireland legend has already established an enviable reputation through his stints as an assistant at Racing 92 and Crusaders but he is assuming the role of head coach for the first time at La Rochelle where he will work under director of rugby Jono Gibbes.

Stephen Bradley's men have to get past Apollon Limassol.

All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen has issued a statement to clarify comments he made about domestic violence while defending his selection of Sevu Reece.

Kieran Read precariously sat upon his team-mates’ shoulders holding the Super Rugby trophy aloft on Saturday, satisfied he had ended his career with the Canterbury Crusaders with one final title.

It’s impossible to get used to -2 degrees in July. Irrespective of how many years a Paddy spends in Christchurch, heading out with a couple of Crusader coaches to a Japanese restaurant dressed like a lagging jacket always seems odd.

Paul O’Connell feels Munster need to be mindful about the absence of any ‘locals’ on their backroom staff as they look to a new campaign with a new-look brains trust under Johann van Graan.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen named four uncapped players in an extended 39-man squad for the Rugby Championship as he looks to finalise his World Cup selections over the next six weeks.

Ronan O’Gara believes that beating the Wellington Hurricanes in the Super Rugby semi-final is a pretty straightforward proposition for his Crusaders.

Ronan O'Gara's Crusaders powered past NZ rivals the Highlanders 38-14 Friday to storm into the Super Rugby semi-finals and continue their drive to a third consecutive title.

Cork City could face a Europa League qualifier against Scottish runners-up Rangers, should both clubs come through their first qualifying round ties.

Cork City will face opposition from Luxembourg or Wales in their Europa League first qualifying round.

He could have joined up with France’s Rugby World Cup coaching ticket or returned to the loving arms of Jacky Lorenzetti and Racing 92.

Simon Lewis,

Ronan O'Gara is on his way back to France, and a head coaching role with Top 14 over-achievers La Rochelle.