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'He didn't have the class to apologise'
By Ian Cameron
La Rochelle boss Ronan O’Gara has spoken out after an unsavoury incident in the Top 14 saw him shoved on the sideline by Clermont’s flyhalf.
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The game took a sour turn as Argentine fly-half Benjamin Urdapilleta clashed with O’Gara on the sideline as he attempted to retrieve a ball that has been kicked into touch in the 57th minute.
With La Rochelle narrowly leading 10-8. Urdapilleta, eager to play quickly, attempted to retrieve the ball from out of bounds, leading to a confrontation with O’Gara. Urdapilleta accused O’Gara of obstructing a potential Clermont quick lineout, sparking a scuffle between the pair.
Referee Luc Ramos penalized Urdapilleta with a simple penalty, which proved decisive as Clermont secured a 11-1o victory.
“With adrenaline, I sometimes have some excesses,” said Urdapilleta after the game. “He [Ronan O’Gara] is clever, I think he did it on purpose. ‘to prevent us receiving the ball. At the time of the action, we were behind in the score so it was complicated. But that’s sport, it can happen. Once the match is over, we forget.
O’Gara’s response came during a press conference, where he expressed his disappointment at the situation.
“A little shocked” said O’Gara of the incident. “He wanted to play quickly so it happens, but I was in my zone. He pushed me twice, right? It’s weird… I know I’m no angel, but there’s respect, and tonight I think we crossed the line.”
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“It has no place in our sport. But a card? It’s not possible either, because it’s for the players against the players, not between the players and the staff.”
“It’s a disappointment, he didn’t have the class to apologise. I understand, he’s frustrated because he won’t be playing in the World Cup. That’s how it is.”
?Never seen anything so bizarre, no idea how Ronan O’Gara kept his cool, I’m not so sure I’d be that calm. What are your thoughts? @top14rugby pic.twitter.com/DqyaK8cIRe
— Rocky Clark MBE (@RockyClark_1) September 2, 2023
England women’s forward Rocky Clark wrote on X: “I’ve never seen anything so bizarre, no idea how Ronan O’Gara kept his cool, I’m not so sure I’d be that calm.”
It’s the latest sideline incident involving O’Gara, who has found himself in hot water in France on a number of occasions.
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In November of last year he was was sanctioned with a ten-week suspension as well as a fine of €20,000, of which €5,000 was suspended, on the grounds of an ‘attack on the best interests of rugby’ following one such incident.
Two months before that incident O’Gara was banned from the matchday touchline for six weeks after facing the charge of disrespecting a match official following the September 10 La Rochelle win at Lyon.
This was an ugly incident. Yes ROG is a loathable character with his recent sideline conduct but players pushing coaching staff on the sideline is inexcusable. By condoning Sexton's conduct recently World Rugby sent a clear message that (certain) players conduct is not a priority. The slippery slope to this becoming football continues.
ROG... Not someone I would hold up as a role model to my children.
He moved away slowly on purpose. O Gara has a reputation and that background makes this more obvious. Anyway, Urdapilleta shouldn’t have pushed him afterwards, now he looks bad. Better if he had just jumped for the ball
With this aggressive statement post match O Gara shows what kind of person he is
Yeah, a bit childish of him to rub salt in the wound of not being at the World Cup while demanding respect.
A penalty against cleremont proved decisive as cleremont went on to win…. Who is proof reading this
Assuming you're not referring to a spelling error in Clermont that has since been corrected, this sentence makes sense to me. The winning penalty was scored by Benjamin Urdapilleta in the 71st minute so the insinuation is that if he had been yellow carded for the incident, rather than receive just a penalty, the result would almost certainly have been different given that there were nearly 25 minutes left to play.
I watched the game though so I suppose I would have asked the same question if I hadn't.