Ronan O'Gara hoping for another crack at Leinster before the season is out

ANOTHER CRACK: La Rochelle's Head Coach Ronan O'Gara is looking forward to another clash against Leisnter. Picture: ©INPHO/James Crombie

A big defeat but not a crushing defeat, said Ronan O’Gara after a brutally tough and intense Investec Champions Cup pool loss to Leinster that will have ramifications for the path they need to take for any third title.

The La Rochelle head coach could rue the lack of reward earned for the territory and possession his side enjoyed but O’Gara is hoping that these familiar foes will cross paths again before the season is out.

“Congratulations to Leinster," he said, "they're better but I hope we get another crack later in the season because our boys can do better and will do better."

La Rochelle did indeed find themselves playing Leinster in Dublin in last year’s quarter-final having lost to the province here at home in the pool stages but they arrived at the Aviva emptied from a trip to South Africa.

This 16-14 loss all but guarantees a path away from home come the quarter and semi-final stages of this latest tournament. That was the “big carrot” to winning here. There is nothing for it now but to press on.

“We’re going to be fighting for as many points as we can. Obviously if Leinster can get five points next week [at home to Bath] they are going to finish second [in the seedings] behind Bordeaux.

“That means they’re in the Aviva for as long as they can be. That’s exactly what you’re trying to control, the same as me today: I wanted to be at the Deflandre for the rest of the season.” 

Disappointing as the result was, and frustrated as he will be with some of the chances they let slip in a game where they dominated for long periods, this was still an improved performance on the fare shown by his team so far this season.

The job now is to make it the bar every week.

“We needed that because we’ve been talking enough about how the performances haven’t been there. Some of these poor French journalists have to suffer watching some of the shite in the Top 14 games, which hasn’t been good but now I think that will give a jolt to everyone, the town and the team, because essentially nothing is lost.

“We’re disappointed but nothing is lost.” 

His take on Leinster was interesting. He knew they would score less and concede less and, sure enough, that’s how it was. The worst part of it was their concession of a Joe McCarthy try off a lineout strike phase in the first-half.

How many other big try chances did they have, he wondered. Not many. This is a very different Leinster side to the Stuart Lancaster version with all its sublime play with ball-in-hand. They are grittier now, more wedded to the slog than the swish.

“They’re definitely harder to play against, but are they better? We’ll see in May,” said O’Gara when asked for his appraisal. “You look at the final in Dublin and not many Test teams can do what they did in 11 minutes.

“We didn’t do much wrong and we’re 17-0 down. Plus they’ve Dan Sheehan to come back [from injury] who I think is one of the world’s best players. Speed kills and he kills teams on his own.”