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O'Gara: 'We're seen as the little team but that’s about to change'

Ronan O'Gara (centre) with Romain Sazy, left, and Gregory Alldritt after the Heineken Champions Cup final (Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Back-to-back Heineken Champions Cup champions La Rochelle cried foul in the aftermath of their remarkable comeback victory over Leinster in Dublin, accusing the home team of disrespecting them at the pre-game coin toss and also with regards to the post-game accommodation.

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The allegation of disrespect was raised when skipper Gregory Alldritt answered a question at the post-match media briefing in French and the matter was then referred to his director of rugby Ronan O’Gara, who was sat alongside him at the top table.

The coach not only addressed the situation that saw Leinster skipper James Ryan allegedly ignoring Alldritt at the pre-match toss carried out by referee Jaco Peyper, but he also explained that the post-match gathering for the La Rochelle players and their families was taking place outside the ground at a local grassroots club facility rather than somewhere inside Aviva Stadium.

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“I got word of it on the pitch,” said O’Gara about the Ryan incident with Alldritt. “My captain and I have a very close relationship. So bizarre action when you go for a toss. Normally you engage eyes, but no eyes were engaged so Greg was disappointed, let down.

“There was a little bit of that in terms of Leinster were obviously the home team, but in terms of accommodation for the family post-match gigs, I think we are in Lansdowne – we can’t even get a room in this place. You know, it’s disappointing on that front but we have got to accept that we are seen as the little team but that’s about to change.”

Away from those pre- and post-game shenanigans, O’Gara revelled in witnessing his team come back from 0-17 down after just 11 minutes to successfully defend their title with a 27-26 win. The victory was clinched with a 71st-minute converted try that was followed by some compelling 14-versus-14 defending on their line with Jonathan Danty following Ronan Kelleher into the sin bin, pressure that was eventually alleviated with Michael Ala’alatoa’s late red card.

Asked about his team’s courageous fightback, O’Gara beamed: “Incredibly good because we were on the ropes big time, we were being steamrolled by a very aggressive team. I knew Andrew Goodman would have a special or two up his sleeve, but I didn’t expect it after 45 seconds.

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“It was a great play they opened their batting with, 7-0, and then within six minutes it is 12-0 and within 11 minutes it is 17-0, so you are not long away from getting hosed which wasn’t the plan coming here.

“We have a very interesting culture in our team and it has changed a lot, the boys really care. It would have been easy to jump ship today but they did the opposite. It was a 23-man effort, they dug in, they showed serious resolve, and they are worthy champions.”

Worthy champions who had to hang tough in a gripping finale that featured a yellow card for La Rochelle, an avalanche of Leinster pressure, and then a pressure-relieving red card.

“Antoine (Hastoy) kicked a pressure conversion, which was a belting kick. It’s a great kick but there are still eight minutes left, it’s a long time in rugby in a one-score game and Leinster bombarded our line.

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“I can’t wait to watch the video, how we keep them out, and then it’s very unfortunate for Mike Ala’alatoa. You have got to come in at that pace to shift bodies. Unfortunately, he got his angle wrong and it’s a head collision and it’s a red card. Desperately disappointing for him because he is a good guy and he plays with aggression, but he is very, very fair.

“That was a huge moment for us but the composure of – we call them deciders – that come in, we threw one or two balls to the top of the jump at 17 metres and got our drive going again and closed out the game in that regard. That, for me, epitomises a team that believes in themselves and it’s spectacularly good what happened today for this group, 17-0. You can have data for everything, but you don’t have data for character.”

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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