Ronan O'Gara: Suffering on safari, Munster fans' blind loyalty, me in my box

Our intrepid columnist finds himself in reflective mood after another brush with authority, admiring Munster's support from afar and, all the while, mixing with the wildlife on South Africa's most southerly tip

NO BANDWAGONS ALLOWED: Munster fans welcome players before the Investec Champions Cup Round of 16 at Stade Marcel Deflandre in La Rochelle earlier this year. Pic: INPHO/Billy Stickland

I DON’T have many positive recalls from losing to Munster last April in the Champions Cup in La Rochelle, but the red-clad legions framing the route to the Stade Marcel Deflandre remains a 2025 standout. I’d almost forgotten what a powerful symbol of Munster defiance that was. It didn't do them any harm afterwards either.

I thought of it reading there are 40,000 tickets sold for Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday when Gloucester come to Cork and marvelled at the enduring bonhomie and loyalty of the Munster support even when things aren’t so gilded on the field of play these days.