Ronan O'Gara column: Staring into Munster's future at 4am

The key part of a great night? Just meeting so many sound people from home. What happened when we bonded with our Munster past at Uini Atonio's pub/restaurant in Ile de Ré

NEW MUNSTER? Scrum half Craig Casey pictured with Ronan O'Gara's two sons, Zac (left) and Max during Munster's pre-season camp and friendly game in La Rochelle. O'Gara's older twins, Rua and Molly turn 18 this weekend.

NOW, where were we? I must tell you first about the night we had after Munster were here playing La Rochelle in a pre-season friendly at the end of August.

I’d had a few bits of chat here and there with the Munster lads over the course of the week they spent in France but as is often the case, the most enlightening and enriching conversations came in the haze of the early hours Saturday morning at Uini Atonio’s restaurant on Ile de Ré.