1
O'Gara provides subtle dig at booing Leinster fans in perfect retort
By Josh Raisey
La Rochelle boss Ronan O'Gara is "not sensitive" about the frosty reception he received from Leinster fans in their Investec Champions Cup quarter-final at the Aviva Stadium.
O'Gara was never a popular figure amongst the Leinster faithful during his playing days being a Munster legend, but that relationship has only deteriorated further in recent years with his success at La Rochelle, beating Leinster in the 2022 and 2023 Champions Cup finals.
To add further spice, the former Ireland fly-half has been involved in various off-field contretemps with Leinster, chiefly firing accusations their way about mistreatment after the final last year.
With that in mind, O'Gara's former Munster and Ireland teammate Alan Quinlan said on Off the Ball this week that the boos that rang out at the Aviva Stadium every time the La Rochelle coach appeared on the screen did not surprise him.
O'Gara himself joined the show on Friday, where he addressed the treatment he was given himself.
The 47-year-old was not perturbed by the reaction at all, saying that it is what happens when playing at the "top level". He did not miss the opportunity though to provide a retort, pointing out that he has inflicted an "enormous amount of hurt" on the Leinster players and fans in recent years.
"There wasn't a couple of boos, there were resounding boos, but that's the ultimate compliment," he said.
"Let's not get sensitive about this, this is what happens when you're playing at the top level.
"Coaching a French team against an Irish team, a team that we have created an enormous amount of hurt for in the last number of years, that's the minimum.
"It's ok, that's what happens, I'm not sensitive about that.
"I have huge time for their players and their coaching group. I was in their dressing room afterwards, they're a really good group.
"It's just two into one doesn't go, you're trying to win, they're trying to win, they were better than us this time."
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Ex-Wallaby explains why All Blacks aren’t at ‘panic stations’
3
Leinster player ratings vs Connacht | 2024/25 URC
4
Fissler Confidential: One England international in, one out for Bath
5
Latest Comments
Yep NZ national u85 team is touring there atm I think (or just has).
Go to commentsWhat are they gonna do with the 500k and what does that achieve? They could dump the whole side and pick amateurs and save 10million, but what is that going to achieve?
The problem it feels like to me is I didn't hear what Gatland is going to do in order to win the 6N next year. How is he helping the problem. It just sounds like they're expecting miracles and for Gatland to turn around the national teams results, but what good is that when you're not fixing any of the problems and you'll just be back where you were when Gatland and the old players leave?
I think you are totally wrong in your stance. Wales abosolutely need to spend that 500k by investing in their future, it just doesn't sound like theyre giving Gatland any more resources to do it with. They're not using that 500k very well.
Go to comments