We can’t imagine Ronan O’Gara will be calling any major selection shots during Ireland’s tour to the United States but he certainly has the ear, and respect, of Joe Schmidt.
The Racing 92 defence coach will be part of the Ireland coaching staff ahead of the June 10 Test against the US Eagles. With Andy Farrell off helping Warren Gatland on British & Irish Lions duty in New Zealand, O’Gara is coming on-board to help with defence, skills and working closely with young outhalves.
During the most recent episode of The Hard Yards, O’Gara spoke about his frequent phone conversations with Joe Schmidt and [from 21:45 below] also praised a few Munster players for their outstanding seasons to date.
O’Gara singled out an in-form Munster winger for an Ireland call-up in the near future.
https://soundcloud.com/thehardyardssportsjoe/episode-10-rog-on-joining-irish-setup-joey-carberys-potential-and-the-art-of-working-a-referee
The former Munster No.10 was at Thomond Park last Saturday to see them blitz Toulouse 41-16 and reach the Champions Cup semi finals for the first time in three years.
Donnacha Ryan, Billy Holland and John Ryan all impressed O’Gara in that game but one player that missed out on the matchday 23, Ronan O’Mahony, is a serious prospect.
The 25-year-old has 10 tries in 20 games this season and also touched down in the Thomond Park exhibition victory over the touring Maori All Blacks. He is named in the Munster XV to take on Glasgow this Saturday.
O’Gara raved about O’Mahony and another Munster player that could only make the bench against Toulouse:
“For people outside the province, they might not be aware of how good this guy is but I’m fully convinced he’ll play for Ireland.
“Andrew Conway was on the bench but fronted up and took his game to a whole new level against England. Munster didn’t have that in the past, in terms of the luxury of choice in the backs when compared to the forwards.”
While Rory Scannell was called in to Ireland’s Six Nations squad and there has been much talk of Darren Sweetnam making the summer touring squad, it will be interesting to see if Schmidt can find room for O’Mahony in his squad of players to tour the US and Japan.
