Brian O'Driscoll believes Ronan O'Gara joining Munster is 'inevitable' but that he has made the right decision to sign on as Director of Rugby at La Rochelle.
O'Gara's three-year deal with the French club was confirmed last week, and while O'Driscoll believes it is the correct move, that Irish audiences need to respect the influence of the departing director.
"So much of what has been said of Ronan O'Gara; he's clearly developed as a coach, a real thinker, he gives phenomenal soundbites after games and in his punditry and it is interesting listening to him. I think we have to pay a little bit of respect to Jono Gibbes as well," O'Driscoll told Monday Night Rugby.
"The coach that [Gibbes] was at Leinster and the fact that Clermont are mad keen to have him back; what they were playing there under Gibbes was pretty phenomenal at times. Obviously, he has a real grá for the club - maybe does he feel that he wasn't getting the credit that he deserved in La Rochelle?
"I don't know what his thinking behind going is, but I'm sure that there were a lot of quality thoughts from both Jono Gibbes and Ronan O'Gara. Now, ROG is going to have to go and develop his own coaching ticket; whether he keeps on those who are still involved or brings in new people will be really interesting to see.
"It is very interesting, from an Irish perspective, that it was very much 'Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle' when Jono Gibbes was still Director of Rugby and must have had a huge say. Indeed, the combination with ROG has probably produced this showing from La Rochelle this season."
Brian O'Driscoll on Ronan O'Gara
As for the homecoming that Munster fans have been looking forward to for some time, O'Driscoll believes there is a shelf life for even the most-coveted jobs.
"I know that there is no place like home and ROG will, at some point, end up in either Cork or Limerick - but he has got five kids and a wife that are well-settled there. They are obviously fluent French speakers, I'm sure they probably think of themselves more as French as English-speaking.
"I can understand why he has gone on and signed on for another three years, he has got the backing of the board in La Rochelle, and his team is playing a great brand. He has got some really clever players in key positions, it is a great part of France - what's not to like?
"The Munster job will be there for him. ROG isn't going anywhere, he is continuing to build his coaching acumen. If he manages to win this weekend or manages to win a European cup or [French league title], his stock will continue to rise and it'll be inevitable that Munster come looking for him.
"When that time arrives, I'm sure he won't be able to turn that down but now, with Johann van Graan at Munster and ROG happy in La Rochelle... be careful how quickly you get the job you want because there is a finite time there too."
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