Where confidence is everything and perception is dangerous

There are still strange days in this great old game, writes Ronan O’Gara

Spent Wednesday listening to a jet fighter pilot trying to convince us of the similarities between his day job and mine. That could take a while.

But the one week in every month I am spending at the French rugby headquarters in Marcoussis doing my coaching badges is under- pinning one of sport’s enduring truisms. Situation management and player management is fundamental.