Talk of Ronan O'Gara potentially succeeding Leo Cullen as Leinster's head coach is a significant misreading of Irish rugby culture, particularly the deep-seated rivalry between Cork and Dublin, according to sports commentator Hugh Farrelly.
Farrelly contends that O'Gara's strong personal and regional identity as a Cork native makes it inconceivable that he would accept a coaching role with Leinster, a team often viewed with antipathy by those in the 'People's Republic of Cork.'
This sentiment is rooted in historical sporting events and a broader cultural divide. Farrelly recounts an instance in April 2003, when Munster players gathered in Cork to watch Leinster play Perpignan in a European Cup semi-final. Despite Munster having lost their own semi-final the previous day, the Cork contingent reportedly celebrated Leinster's subsequent defeat, illustrating a preference for any Irish province to falter before Leinster achieved a significant triumph.
This Cork-centric perspective extends to rugby figures. While O'Gara is revered in Cork, a former rival like Johnny Sexton, despite his achievements, faced criticism from some Cork quarters. Farrelly argues that O'Gara, a figure akin to a sporting icon in Cork alongside names like Roy Keane and Sonia O'Sullivan, would face immense backlash from his home region if he were to coach Leinster.
He draws a parallel to Declan Kidney, another figure with a similar Cork background who took on the Leinster coaching role in 2004. Kidney's tenure was described as a "wrong fit" for both himself and the province, despite his later success with the Irish national team. Farrelly suggests O'Gara would face a similar cultural disconnect.
Further evidence cited is O'Gara's decision to write a newspaper column for a Cork-based publication, the Examiner, despite lucrative offers from Dublin-based national papers. This choice is presented as indicative of his commitment to his Cork identity.
While IRFU elite performance director David Humphreys indicated O'Gara might be considered a candidate for the Leinster job, Farrelly interprets this as a speculative comment rather than a concrete indication of O'Gara's interest or the IRFU's active pursuit. The author maintains that O'Gara's personal history and deep Cork roots present insurmountable barriers to him ever taking on the Leinster coaching position.