Ronan O'Gara: Measuring the time it takes to haul yourself out of the doldrums

How we unravelled at the end of last season fed into a hard truth that never left me –we were not properly at the pace of the game all season. That’s a big statement and it’s on me too

TOUGH BEAT: 'Was I beaten down heading off on holidays at the end of last season? Most definitely.' Pic: Billy Stickland, Inpho.

SO where were we before we were rudely interrupted by a pair of red cards that torpedoed our ambitions for a first Top 14 title in La Rochelle’s history?

‘Toulouse down ill-disciplined La Rochelle to reach Top 14 final’ was the June 21 headline and it was as accurate as it was galling. All the life books tell you that with age you gain perspective. I had an aching gut through the ten weeks from season’s end to pre-season, searching for torture and scrutiny of our indiscipline and why we can’t get it right.