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Ronan O'Gara to face two Top 14 disciplinary hearings in a week

(Photo by Xavier Leoty/AFP via Getty Images)

La Rochelle boss Ronan O’Gara is to face two Top 14 disciplinary hearings in a week following incidents during recent matches in the French league. That Irishman was informed last week that there would be a hearing on April 6 regarding his alleged behaviour during his team’s March 26 home win over Racing 92, his former club. 

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The statement at the time confirming there was a case to answer stated that O’Gara wasn’t suspended pending the hearing. That left him free to continue his work as the La Rochelle boss and he went on to become embroiled in another incident during last Saturday’s Top 14 win away to Bordeaux. 

The date for this second hearing is April 13, four days after La Rochelle visit Bordeaux again for next Saturday’s opening leg their round of 16 Heineken Champions Cup tie. A Ligue Nationale de Rugby statement read: “At the end of the meeting between Bordeaux and La Rochelle, the citing commissioner as well as the referees number four and number five reported the behaviour of Ronan O’Gara, the La Rochelle coach. 

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“The situation in question is likely to constitute an infringement of the general regulations of the LNR and the FFR. O’Gara and the La Rochelle club are summoned before the disciplinary and rules committee at its meeting on Wednesday, April 13. O’Gara is not suspended pending this hearing.”

Bordeaux boss Christophe Urios, with whom O’Gara clashed at Stade Chaban-Delmas, has also been informed he will face the same charge as his La Rochelle rival on the same April 13 hearing date.  

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The LNR statement announcing the first O’Gara hearing on April 6 again outlined that the behaviour of the Irishman warranted their attention. It read: “At the end of the La Rochelle versus Racing 92 meeting, referees number four and number five reported the behaviour of O’Gara. The situation in question is likely to constitute an infringement of the general regulations of the LNR and the FFR.

“O’Gara and the La Rochelle club are summoned before the disciplinary and rules committee at its meeting on Wednesday, April 6. O’Gara is not suspended pending this hearing.”

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O
Oh no, not him again? 1 hour 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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