Dan Carter: Ronan O’Gara has bright future at top of the game
He knows a good coach when he sees one. In Ronan O’Gara, Carter clearly sees a good one.
Carter arrived in Dublin yesterday on the back of news that O’Gara’s stint coaching with Racing 92 would extend through to 2019 at least which, coincidentally, is the same point at which his own contract with the Parisian club is due to expire.
The Munster legend formed an unlikely relationship with his old adversary Jonathan Sexton during the Leinster man’s two seasons at the Top 14 club and it seems as if the vibes between O’Gara and the Dubliner’s successor are equally positive.
O’Gara has apparently been helping Carter with his French since the latter landed in the country three months ago. He even doled out some Irish lessons on Wednesday evening, tutoring Carter on how to pronounce ‘Foróige’ ahead of his promotional work with the youth organisation in the capital yesterday.
Kicking competitions between the pair have helped build the bond further — Carter has yet to lose, he joked — but the glue that really makes the relationship stick is a mutual respect.
And the World Cup-winning ten is all praise for the Irishman in Racing’s ranks. “He’s doing an extremely good job. From my old rival to now becoming my coach is great. He’s got an amazing passion. He has got great understanding of the game. He’s still early into his career and I’m sure he’s got an extremely bright future.”
O’Gara is defence coach these days, of course. It is an irony that isn’t lost on Carter who admitted to the fact that New Zealand habitually targeted his 10 channel when they played Ireland, but the stats speak volumes for the job he is doing.
No side has conceded less than the 20 tries that Racing have given up in just 20 Top 14 games this season and the measly six they have conceded in the Champions Cup pool stages leaves them atop that pile too. It’s hard to argue with figures like that.
“A lot of it is about his understanding of the game and also his attitude,” said Carter of O’Gara. “He brings the best out of players. He doesn’t settle for anything other than the best so if we don’t perform he comes down on us pretty hard.
“Defence often is about attitude. Obviously there are a lot of technical things as well, but attitude (is crucial).
“We’ve got a great team culture and wanting to work hard for your teammates and that’s shown best through defence. He’s really driving that and leading the way.”
Carter has clearly benefited from the culture which O’Gara and Sexton helped foster in the dressing room prior to his arrival, though he has adopted an open mind to the ongoing differences in approach and method which might have so frustrated Sexton.
Life off the pitch has been good, too.
Carter has been spotted at fashion shows, he has shared selfies from the Champs Elysées and breakfasted on scrambled egg and black truffles for his birthday, but the gourmet offerings have been less conspicuous in this year’s Six Nations.
He hasn’t watched much of the tournament. The time difference wasn’t exactly conducive to it when he was in New Zealand although he has taken in a tad more now that he is domiciled in Europe and some of his teammates are involved.
He backed a call for the introduction of bonus points earlier this week as a means of livening things up and he is of the opinion that the fare should improve as the tournament goes on and players and teams begin to gel the longer they are together. Weather permitting, some would say.
Moving the Six Nations back to a date more conducive to a more open game of rugby has long been mooted, but Carter has braved too many Kiwi winters to believe that a wet pill is the ill that holds the northern hemisphere game back.
“It’s pretty terrible weather in New Zealand in the winter, but you train, you continue to work hard and try to perform those skills whatever the conditions.
“It will change your game slightly, but it shouldn’t mean ‘right, we’re not going to try and score points today because of the weather’.”
Dan Carter on....
“There are just so many New Zealand coaches abroad at the moment. We just focus on the guys we have there and growing them.”
“They have improved immensely over the last few years. Now they have a lot of their players playing regularly together they are going to improve in Super Rugby.”
“It’s an amazing competition to be a part of and it’s a huge drawing card for players in New Zealand to be a part of it. So when guys are renegotiating contracts, or looking at playing abroad, often the World Cup and the Lions series are two influential factors in keeping players playing in New Zealand.”
“There’s a lot of changes to the (All Blacks) side with the retirements and guys moving on, but I think the Irish are in a little bit of a development period themselves. It’s going to be a great occasion. I’m looking forward to it.”
“When I started and you had a concussion you wouldn’t come off. You’d continue to play that game and play the following week. There was no structure in place. Now there’s amazing structure in place.”
“It’s an amazing sport, there’s so much more positives to rugby than something like that. With the medical procedures in place now to help deal with those concussions, precautions and securities, I’m more than comfortable if my boys want to play.”
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
