Paulie backs O’Gara coaching call

Paul O’Connell has backed former Munster team-mate Ronan O’Gara to be a “great” coach after the fly-half announced he was retiring and taking a job on Racing Metro’s backroom staff.

O’Connell, 33, has played his entire career alongside O’Gara for Munster, Ireland and the British & Irish Lions, winning two Heineken Cups and a Grand Slam together.

Yesterday, as O’Connell and his Lions teammates continued preparations for the forthcoming Series at Carton House, Co. Kildare, the lock reacted to O’Gara’s weekend announcement and predicted a coaching career for the Corkman every bit as successful as his playing days.