Ronan O’Gara, the Irish coach who instilled his rage to win at Stade Rochelais

Anyone who has been lucky enough to attend a La Rochelle match will tell you: impossible to miss Ronan O’Gara or rather not to hear him. For 80 minutes, the Irish manager is a ball of nerves who spends his time haranguing his players, almost yelling at them.

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But beyond the caricature of the volcanic character, the former Ireland team opener knows better than anyone how to transmit his passion and inoculate his rage to win. “He brought us his experience in the European Cupexplains the history of the Romain Sazy club. If there is a competition that he loves and knows by heart, it is this one. I think he tickled us on this to make us understand that it was possible. And so far, it’s all good. “

This will to win will be necessary on Saturday May 20 for the grand final of the European Rugby Cup against Leinster (at 5:45 p.m. French time). It is the same poster as in 2022, in Marseille, but disputed this time in the very warm atmosphere of the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland. Everyone sees the Irish win at home because the great Toulouse has already badly broken their teeth there in the semi-finals. So what ? replies Ronan O’Gara, the former playing master of Munster, historical rival of Leinster: “I respect the opponent, but I have hyper-motivated players. We know it’s going to be very tough. But it’s possible. The players are better and the team is better.”

A change of mind

And after all, La Rochelle has already beaten Leinster twice and is 15 straight European Cup victories, almost two years of unbeaten, a record. With O’Gara, Stade Rochelais has learned to no longer see itself as the little thumb, still in the 2nd division ten years ago. A change of mindset within the Maritimes. “One thing is certain is that the club has come out of this culture of humility which prevents you from being ambitious.explains Vincent Merling, president of Stade Rochelais.

“Today, we understood that we can be humble but ambitious because all his talk is about it. When we made our first French championship final, I was overjoyed to go to the Stade de France, and he told me that we hadn’t won anything.”

Vincent Merling, president of Stade Rochelais

at franceinfo

Ronan O’Gara, key to the success of the Rochelais this afternoon? His presence is in any case one of the most feared in Dublin. A proof ? A Leinster supporter, with the help of a sponsor, did not hesitate to paint on a rugby pitch, a message visible from any plane arriving in Dublin: “It’s never too late to turn around, Ronan.”