Racing’s Quesada won’t write off any team with O’Gara in it

As a goal-kicking Test fly-half, it is little wonder Racing-Metro head coach Gonzalo Quesada should give a nod to the most prolific number 10 in Heineken Cup history.

The former Argentina pivot and top points scorer at the 1999 World Cup, Quesada is now in charge of the cosmopolitan Parisians with the task of masterminding a plan to nullify the right boot of Ronan O’Gara.

However, it is the spirit, as well as the kicking prowess, of the Heineken Cup’s leading scorer that most impresses Racing’s head coach as they prepare to kick-off their European campaign at Stade de France this afternoon.

Quesada said: “O’Gara is one of the most experienced fly-halves in the game today. I have not seen much of him so far this season, even if I always have an eye on the RaboDirect Pro 12, but I know very well what he does for Munster. His rugby is very complete. He knows how to lead a team and is a key player for Munster. He is in a difficult situation in the national team by being the second choice after Jonathan Sexton, but he doesn’t give up.

“Some players after a huge career prefer to take their international career retirement, but Ronan is not in this group. He prefers to fight and even if he is on the bench he always bring a huge value for Ireland. As long as Munster has its pack and Ronan O’Gara, it will be a dangerous team.”

O’Gara’s last-gasp drop goal beat Castres Olympique last season, however Munster’s record in France is patchy and one quarter-final appearance in two years is a modest return for a club reared on European success.

Quesada said: “Munster have had one or two difficult seasons. The last results are not very impressive but we cannot judge with their league results because they do not care much about it.

“Munster’s goal is to be brilliant in the Heineken Cup and every year they are one of the mains actors in the competition. They are always ready to play European games.”

Like Munster, Racing have lost their last two games in the Top 14, to Grenoble and Montpellier when new signing Olly Barkley made his debut from the bench for the final 20 minutes following his switch from Bath.

Quesada said: “We did not want to recruit a player to simply complete the squad. We wanted a player with value and experience. Olly is able the lead the game with a good balance between kicking and passing. He is a good defensive player and he is a left-handed kicker. His French is limited but he has started intensive French class and has integrated in the team thanks to the English-speaking players from South Africa and Fiji.”

Racing showed their potential with victories over Saracens and Clermont-Auvergne in their debut Heineken Cup campaign but having found themselves on the wrong side of four narrow defeats last season, they still have much to learn and today’s game, and next week’s at Saracens too, will set the tone for their ambition.

Quesada said: “I don’t like the expression ‘pool of death’ but it is definitely not the easiest.

“If we want to qualify we must get the first place because with our pool it will be difficult to be one of the best runners-up.

“Our goal is to give everything we have for the first two games. If we win these two games then we can win the pool and reach the quarter-finals.

“If we do not win these two games we must be smart and manage the squad to secure the Top14 championship.”