O’Gara: Munster now just ‘average to good’

In the wake of their Thomond Park defeat at the hands of Ulster, Ronan O’Gara has admitted that Munster are no longer the heavyweight force they were by describing the current squad as just “average to good”.

Speaking in Cork’s Woolshed Bar as part of Newstalk’s Off The Ball programme last night, O’Gara conceded Munster are no longer part of Europe’s elite and that things must change if the province is to reach the heights of 2006 and ’08 when they won the Heineken Cup.

“I think we’re probably an average to good team but we’re not a very good team,” the fly-half remarked. “I think we need to look at a few things.

“I’d like to think that by next season we could be a very good team. There’s obviously going to be a few important changeovers and new staff and new players but it all depends on what motivation the players bring starting off pre-season.”

Munster have already secured the services of centres Casey Laulala and James Downey for next season but with Tony McGahan set to return to Australia, the head coach position remains unfilled for the 2012-2013 season.

Commenting on the vacancy during the week, O’Gara insisted that Munster should leave no stone uncovered in their search for a new coach but last night he clarified that his remarks did not suggest former team-mate Anthony Foley shouldn’t take charge.

“I think he’s exceptional and he will have a massive role to play whether he is the head coach or the assistant coach,’’ O’Gara said. “It doesn’t matter to me because I know how important he is to Munster rugby so I take him for granted in terms of what he will bring.

“But you’d like to think with what Munster have achieved and the quality of players that are there, there should be coaches around the world that should be interested.”

Last Sunday’s defeat, only Munster’s second at home in the Heineken Cup, means the province have not reached a Heineken Cup semi-final since 2010 and Ireland’s record point scorer admitted it still didn’t sit comfortably with him, especially knowing that a home semi-final against Edinburgh awaited them.

“I took the defeat very badly. I thought it would get better with time but the last few days have been bad.

“I have a knock on my knee so I haven’t trained. When you train you release endorphins and you get that release but at the minute I’m looking for something to do or looking for answers but it is difficult.”

He added: “We didn’t deserve to win so that’s why we are where we are.”