Rugby: Ronan O'Gara looking forward to Dublin showdown

Ronan O'Gara is looking forward to another season with the Crusaders. Photo / Photosport

Ronan O'Gara needs not a second thought.

"Oh yeah, I'll be there," he says of Ireland hosting the All Blacks in Dublin come November.

O'Gara, the celebrated Irish first five-eighth now assisting Scott Robertson at the Crusaders, achieved many feats during his playing career.

From Heineken Cup success with Munster to 130 tests, including two British and Irish Lions caps, O'Gara featured on some of rugby's greatest stages.

Vision of his match-winning dropped goal against Wales which secured the 2009 Grand Slam, Ireland's first for 63 years, played as he stepped into World Rugby's Hall of Fame last week.

In 13 attempts, though, O'Gara never featured in a winning Irish team against the All Blacks.

Ireland, of course, broke their duck with victory in Chicago in 2016. Despite losing the return leg in Dublin two weeks later, O'Gara appears confident Ireland can repeat those history-making efforts in the most anticipated test of the year.

"New Zealand plays England the Saturday before Ireland. That's two big games in a row and you have to remember these guys are touring, so will it be their full team and what combinations will they pick?

"For the Home Nations, it is the biggest game after the Six Nations. When New Zealand come, that's the one everyone wants to be at."

Ireland led 25-8 at halftime in Chicago, surviving a typical All Blacks comeback to prevail 40-29.

"Home advantage is big. You'll have 50,000 mad Irish people in there. If Ireland gets a start like they did the last time, I think they'll finish the job this time.

"But I would like to think New Zealand in their heads will be thinking 'we can't start the game like that or give away easy scores'.

"It will be a great game, and tactically so interesting to see how both teams go about it."

Given Ireland's progress under Kiwi mentor Joe Schmidt, it seems remarkable the Six Nations champions are yet to reach a World Cup semifinal.

Since retiring, O'Gara watched Ireland's development during his four years in France with Racing 92, where he formed a tight relationship with Dan Carter while taking charge of skills and kicking, and now from Christchurch.

Ronan O'Gara with Jason Ryan and Ryan Crotty of the Crusaders after winning the Super Rugby final. Photo / Photosport

Next year in Japan, he hopes Ireland finally take the next step.

"They've got a lot more detail in their game thanks to Joe Schmidt. There's a lot more strength and depth as well. In my time, there was probably 25 players; now, there's 40, so they're not reliant on any one individual.

"I think they're hugely consistent - you know what you're going to get from Ireland. They're very disciplined, they're very well organised, they have some very good strike plays and they will keep the ball. Joe has them humming, no doubt about it.

"Ireland will have huge ambitions of getting to a World Cup semifinal and then they will probably reassess. Getting the monkey off their back will be getting over that quarter-final.

"The last time [in 2015], Ireland had a good team as well, but they got a few injuries and got absolutely smashed by Argentina. It wasn't close [43-20].

"Who is going to be the Japan of the last World Cup in this World Cup? There's always a bolter, so it makes for fascinating viewing."

While there is no mistaking where O'Gara's heart lies, his presence at the Crusaders has seen him work closely with Richie Mo'unga, a leading influence in guiding the franchise to successive Super Rugby titles this season.

Mo'unga did not enjoy the smoothest starting debut for the All Blacks in Nelson this month, making a number of uncharacteristic errors, but O'Gara's is certain he will thrive in the test arena.

In fact, after the win over the Pumas, O'Gara texted Mo'unga to say the most interesting thing was how at ease he looked.

"There's more to come from him, but what a player. It's great he's the complete opposite of robotic. He's very instinctive. He has great acceleration. He enjoys playing what he sees. I enjoy working with him. He's an organised and driven young man, so it's great to see him get the reward he wants out of the game."

O'Gara describes his first season at the Crusaders as challenging and invigorating. Plotting a third straight title is another step on a coaching path expected to eventually lead him back to Ireland.

"It will be interesting to see what Razor does. Backing it up is when you do it for a second time. We need a different focus this time. But it'll be good because he's in charge. That's one of the reasons we're going back to tap into him a little bit more and enjoy his company and try and get the best out of each other. He's going places as a coach and I like working with him.

"There's a lot of really good people there. You want to get the best out of yourself and I feel that's where I can do that. I feel I can be myself. I come probably from a different point of view but the boys seem interested in my opinion. I don't have all the answers, they don't either, so we need each other. That's what we did this year and got what we wanted.

"I just like the way we have fun and care for each other. It's really important."