Ronan O’Gara reveals how candid chat ‘pushed’ Richie Mo’unga to be ‘world-class’
Fly-half Richie Mo'unga in action for the All Blacks in 2023 and ex-Crusaders coach Ronan O'Gara.
Ronan O’Gara has opened up on his role in Richie Mo’unga’s development and hopes the All Blacks playmaker will return to the highest level.
The La Rochelle boss coached the fly-half for two years during the Crusaders’ 2018 and 2019 Super Rugby campaigns as part of Scott Robertson’s backroom team.
They won the title twice in that time, with Mo’unga the linchpin in the key playmaking role.
However, O’Gara still felt the pivot could make improvements to his game, advice which he claims initially upset the immensely gifted fly-half.
Appearing on The Aftermatch with Kirst and Beav, the Irishman was asked about the greatest player he has coached.
Awkward start with Mo’unga
“From a personal relationship, it was Richie Mo’unga,” O’Gara responded, before revealing how it did not get off to the best of starts.
He added: “I had a difficult start with him because I asked him for his kicking programme.
“I just kind of said: ‘Richie, that doesn’t stack up to being world-class for me, I thought you said you wanted to be world-class’.
“We didn’t really speak for three or four months; it was really, really difficult, but I had to stay true to what I thought was world-class to push him.”
It appears as though Mo’unga heeded those words of wisdom, however, becoming the All Blacks’ first choice 10 just prior to the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
He competed with Beauden Barrett for the number 10 jersey before that, with the current Blues star just having the edge, but O’Gara evidently had a positive impact on his career.
“Now every time he wins a title, he rings me. We have such a strong relationship and I’ve seen him progress, and that makes me very, very happy and very proud,” the 48-year-old said.
“The one thing that happens when you get older is you get a little bit wiser, and you try and impart that on the guy.
“At first, there was a little bit of pushback, which there was from Richie, but we have such deep respect between us. That fills your heart with such joy that you have that connection with a guy for all your life.”
O’Gara’s success at the Crusaders
O’Gara was widely praised by those connected with the Crusaders for his impact during his brief stint there, but he played down his role in those title successes.
Instead, the Irishman cherished the relationship he built with Mo’unga and hopes that he will return to Test rugby soon.
The 31-year-old is currently not eligible for the All Blacks after moving to Japan on a three-year deal following the 2023 World Cup.
“I was a blow-in for a lot of them (Crusaders’ Super Rugby titles). I didn’t win titles, I was a tiny, tiny piece in the environment, so I was very grateful. It’s all about relationships with players,” O’Gara said.
“I’m regularly in contact with Richie and hopefully he will get back into the Test arena, it would be good to see it.”
