O'Gara finds 'frustration' but positives too as clumsy La Rochelle labour to win over Toulon

Top 14 round-up: Irishman's side make heavy weather of opening victory of the campaign but 'in the medium and long term, I think this match will benefit us'

SUNSHINE AND SHADOWS: La Rochelle's Irish coach Ronan O'Gara looks during to the French Top 14 rugby union match between Rugby Club Toulonnais (Toulon) and Stade Rochelais (La Rochelle). Pic:  MATTHIEU RONDEL/AFP via Getty Images

La Rochelle coach Ronan O’Gara said there were “plenty of positives … but also a lot of frustration” after his side laboured to a clumsy 19-15 win over undisciplined Toulon in their first outing of the Top 14 season at a packed-out Stade Marcel Deflandre.

It was the fourth match of the French top-flight’s opening weekend decided by less than a score – but La Rochelle dominated possession and territory and should have won more convincingly. O’Gara, however, saw longer-term positives.