O'Gara: 'I promise it’s not over here at La Rochelle'
Ronan O'Gara, head coach of Stade Rochelais. Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images
A combative Ronan O’Gara insisted “it’s not over” as his backs-to-the-wall La Rochelle prepare to face former club Munster in the Champions Cup round-of-16 at Stade Marcel Deflandre.
“We’re always strong in April and May,” he warned. “We didn’t win in Clermont, we gave them a gift … but I think we’re capable of putting in a great performance again.”
La Rochelle are currently 10th in the Top 14, and have not won a match in any competition since January 4, when they needed a late Antoine Hastoy penalty to beat an inexperienced Toulouse squad.
O’Gara admitted that his side’s current travails meant he had mixed feelings about the match itself. “With everything that has happened over the last two months, this is not a week for having fun, enjoying yourself, reflecting, seeing the Munster guys,” he said.
“That's how it is in rugby. There are periods when everything works... at the moment, it's not working.
“I’m not the kind of guy who can switch off. I’m 24/7, seven days a week with my passion. When it doesn’t work out, it’s disruptive, for my family and for me. But I know that’s the way it is in this job. When there’s a storm, you don’t go outside.”
La Rochelle have a loyal fanbase of their own – Stade Marcel Deflandre stadium has sold out for every match, either side of the period of pandemic restrictions, since January 2, 2016, more than 100 matches ago.
Even so, O’Gara said he expects the club to be ‘surprised’ by the level of support Munster are expected to bring – with more than 2,000 fans expected to make the trip to the south-western port.
“Two-thousand is the official figure,” he said. “I tried to warn the club about the Red Army – but I think everyone will be a little shocked by their state of mind, their way of traveling. For them, it’s an extraordinary weekend. There are Irish people all over the world, in Europe, and the meeting point this weekend will be La Rochelle.
“With tickets or without, they will be there. I don't know how they are going to keep them out, because they will wait and if there is a gap, they will get in.”
Even though he is working for a La Rochelle victory, the Munster fans have a special place in O’Gara’s heart. “I have very strong memories – there’s a huge amount of respect between me and these supporters.
“When I was struggling as a player, they helped me regain confidence: I had been terrible at the 2007 World Cup. After that, in the first preseason friendly, when I entered the field for warm-up, they all applauded me. That memory will stay with me all my life.
“It’s like the La Rochelle supporters at the moment, with the things we’ve done together over the last five years. There were hundreds of them in the stands in Clermont – I was proud to see that.
“I left my mark at Munster, I’m going to leave my mark here. I loved being at Munster, I love La Rochelle now, I’ve given my all here and so have the players. Don't forget that, even if it's a difficult time.
“It's too simple to say it’s over, I promise it’s not over here at all. I for one will try to show it this weekend.”
