Ronan O’Gara confirms he is in talks about New Zealand coaching switch

The RTE boys were never going to let the presence of Ronan O'Gara on their panel pass without asking the all important question.

O'Gara is in Dublin for some Ireland versus South Africa media work but most TV viewers wanted to know about the new job he is being linked to. The former Munster and Ireland outhalf is in his fifth season as defence coach at Racing 92, in France, but he has been linked with a coaching switch to reigning Super Rugby champs Crusaders. The Irish Examiner reported, on Friday, that O'Gara is in the frame for an assistant coach job with Scott Robertson at Crusaders, the reigning Super Rugby champions and the closest fit you will find to Munster in the southern hemisphere. At the Aviva Stadium, this evening, Robertson himself was in attendance for the Guinness Series clash. https://twitter.com/patmccarry/status/929399479211524098 Ahead of the game, O'Gara confirmed that there has been contact with the New Zealanders but he stressed he is still contracted to Racing [until June 2019]. He told RTE:

"The horse has bolted big time with this story. Communication has started between the two clubs. There's a lot of fences to jump.  "There has been contact. I'm not gong to run away from it. But also you have to respect that I'm really enjoying what's going on in Paris.  "You've got to take it from my point of view that I go to work there on Monday morning so let's wait and see."

There is a free spot on the Crusaders coaching staff as formr All Blacks star Leon MacDonald has left the franchise to spend more time with his family in Tasman. The confirmation by O'Gara and the presence of Robertson in Dublin have seen this story quickly develop.